Grace Strobel

Grace Elizabeth Strobel (born 28 June 1996) is a St. Louis-based model, brand representative, and inspirational speaker. She is the first American with Down syndrome to represent a major international skincare line,
 
Strobel has been interviewed on radio and television, and featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, Allure, Bella Magazine, PBS, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, among others. She served as panelist for the diversity webinar series by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.
An advocate for persons with disabilities, she has become a trailblazer in her profession and uses her platform to raise awareness and change perceptions. She currently lives with her parents in Chesterfield, Missouri. In her free time, she loves working out, cooking, and hanging out with friends and her sister Laine.
Modeling and Representation
In October 2020, Grace was named Obagi's Skinclusion Ambassador—a title previously held by Priyanka Chopra—and recently signed for her third year of contract representation. She has modeled for Rihanna’s FentyBeauty, Marc Jacobs, Justin Alexander, Amika, Veronica Beard, Revelry, Crocs, and Alivia Clothing. She has walked the runway representing Tommy Hilfiger for Runway of Dreams, New York Fashion Week 2020, and Atlantic City Fashion Week.
Early Life
Grace was diagnosed at birth with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder featuring an extra chromosome that results in developmental and intellectual delays. Her parents, Linda and Jeff Strobel, were told their daughter would face a lifetime of challenges and likely never read or write. "Doctors told my mom and dad that I would not achieve much … that I would never even tie my own shoes," Grace said. "I'm here today to tell you they were wrong."
 
Her interest in modeling began when she was conducting research for #TheGraceEffect, a presentation about living with disability that she gives to students. She discovered Madeline Stuart, a model with Down syndrome, which inspired Grace to wonder if she could be a model, too. "When I look through a magazine, I don't see people like me," she said. "I think people with disabilities sometimes feel invisible. They should feel seen, heard, and valued. Modeling makes me feel like I belong."
Grace had her first photo shoot in 2018 with St. Louis photographer, Trenna Travis. A month later, in August 2018, her family posted 22 of those photos to Facebook and they went viral, receiving 210K global shares in the first two weeks. The photos went on to receive more than 200K likes during the first month.
After that post, Grace quickly sparked local attention. She was featured on the cover of Chesterfield Lifestyle Magazine in February 2019. In March, the St. Louis Post Dispatch ran a Sunday morning, four-page cover feature on Grace in the Lifestyle section, written by nationally syndicated columnist, Aisha Sultan. Then, in rapid succession, came The Daily Mail news, local NBC and CBS affiliate stories, and The Drudge Report. The Today Show prepared a full feature of live and prerecorded segments, which aired nationally in October 2019. Her first paid modeling gig was for Alivia Clothing in the Spring of 2019, featured on social media and their website.
Advocacy
After a bullying attack in 2017, Grace determined to become a positive force for change, with a vision that she could foster understanding and elevate empathy for anyone feeling different or alone. She enlisted the aid of her mother, and together they created #TheGraceEffect, a presentation for students about overcoming obstacles, treating people with kindness and respect, and living with a disability. To-date, Grace has reached more than 3,000 young people in the St. Louis area and thousands more nationally, raising awareness and shifting perceptions about what is possible for someone with a disability.
“I wanted to share with students what it’s like to have struggles, and I wanted to show how we can change someone’s life just by being kind and giving respect, no matter who you are,” she told Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie during a visit to Today Show. “We all want the same things: to be valued, to be respected, and to be loved.”
Awards
In 2022, Grace was presented with the Watson Family Achievement Award from the Pujols Family Foundation for the inspirational impact she is delivering with #TheGraceEffect. Also in 2022, the St. Louis-based Missouri Historical Society documented Grace’s achievements by adding seven of her donated clothing items to its permanent collection, noting, “The clothing Grace donated demonstrates her career and her personal style and doesn’t focus on Down syndrome as a negative.” In 2021, she was presented with the Women of Achievement Award for Youth Outreach, citing.
 
Media
Grace’s first paid modeling job for Alivia Clothing was featured in Forbes. Many feature articles have since been published in digital and print media, including The Daily, Bella Mag, Yahoo! Life, Yahoo! News, and numerous others.
Category:1996 births
Category:People from Irvine, California	
Category:Models
Category:Motivational speakers