Meet Olivia Depiore

We recently connected with Olivia Depiore and have shared our conversation below.

Olivia, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

As an individual with a disability, we are already starting behind the 8-ball due to people thinking that we can’t do what the average person does, that we need a little assistance when doing some basic life functions, and that causes us to already have a lower level of confidence and self-esteem.

My modeling and getting out in front of people and representing those who have been overlooked for so many years helps me to build confidence and know that I am definitely a contender in the fashion arena. People recognize the work that goes into practicing, posing, knowing my body, knowing how to show the design or product I am supporting, etc.

I think, too, the recognition that I have received by winning awards and being recognized by my peers helps me and the world see my confidence.

I, and others, see the increase in my social skills, my communication skills and my abilities to interact with people all over the world and in different cultures. Also, other individuals with disabilities are reaching out to have me coach them and give them advice. With those individuals, it’s so rewarding to see them come out of their shell and reach goals that they never thought they would achieve.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Olivia is a 27-year old international model who travels the world advocating for inclusion and making herself “visible” so the world normalizes those who are “different” than themselves. Olivia has Down Syndrome, but she doesn’t let that get her down.

Olivia has graced NY Fashion Week numerous times, and also added to her repertoire is Paris, Milan, Dubai, Miami, Los Angeles and just recently returned from Bangkok, Thailand, where she won Model of the Year.

She studies other models’ poses, actions, and characteristics as she learns more ways to promote herself. Numerous articles have been written on her accomplishments and she has been on covers of numerous magazines, too. She has also won modeling awards from London and Dubai. She has done numerous ads and commercials for companies, including Delta Airlines and locally, the Original Mattress Factory.

Olivia has recently been named as one of the top 85 women in the world in the category of “Women Worth Watching in Leadership” for all of her work in advocacy of inclusion named by the Profiles in Diversity Magazine. Also, she currently is a nominee for the Stiletto Boss Model of the Year and was nominated for the CLIO Awards.

Hot off the presses, Olivia has been selected for Marquis’ Who’s Who in America and she was found to be the ONLY person with Down Syndrome to ever win this award!

In addition, Olivia is a Cancer survivor and has raised over $100,000 for Cancer treatment and awareness.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Positivity – I could have very well just shrunk away with all of the stares, people who don’t understand or welcome those with disabilities, and lack of support when I needed it. With my successes, and good people around me, this is definitely changing and I am now invited and encouraged to come to many events!

Kindness – I show all types of people that being kind to others will always pay off and will spread to others who may just need a little help in this area. A little bit of kindness may make a difference in someone being depressed and in lower states and making it through another day or another challenge.

Awareness – Each time I walk a runway or sit for a photoshoot, I take the feedback and learn from it. I watch others who are great in their career and attempt to use those same qualities and skills. I, also, give those people positive feedback to help show the kindness I mentioned above.

Advice that I have for others would be that persistence will always pay off. There are going to be hurdles in every aspect of life and we can’t let those deter us. We need to go around those hurdles and keep moving on. Take the feedback of others, whether it be positive or constructive, and learn from it.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking for people who are like-minded and understand the need to expose our world to more “differences”. We all need to realize that not all people are alike and it would be a pretty boring world if we were.

Welcoming differences helps us to be more well-rounded and then, when we see these items in the future, we are not so shocked and are able to learn from those differences.

Just like different languages, cultures, colors of skin, religions, etc., exposure and visibility is extremely important. We all know that bullying comes from lack of exposure and understanding.

I am always looking for others to have me and others be invited to arenas…no matter what they are…to help others understand learn.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @oliviadepiore
• Facebook: oliviadepioremodel
• Youtube: Olivia DePiore

Image Credits

Jackie Bertolette

Rusted Ravens