Benefit Cosmetics Just Hired Its First Model With Down syndrome
There’s an exciting new face in the makeup industry, and she brings much more than natural beauty. Benefit Cosmetics just tapped model Kate Grant to promote their new Roller Liner Liquid Eyeliner. The 20-year-old Irish model is making waves as Benefit’s first brand ambassador with Down syndrome.
It’s not Grant’s first taste of the spotlight. In August, she was crowned Teen Ultimate Beauty Of The World, and her win brought her worldwide attention and spurred conversations about what a modern model looks like.
First Impression
But that’s not how Benefit discovered her. In fact, the brand noticed her completely by chance. “We saw a Facebook video about her journey to becoming a model,” said Michelle Stoodley, Head of Digital for Benefit Cosmetics UK, in an email to Simplemost. “We fell instantly in love with her.”
As a result, Benefit reached out and found a way to work with her. Stoodley added, “Her amazing energy was so infectious and we were captivated by her incredible zest for life and determination.”
Glamour Shots
The brand flew Grant out to London for the campaign. You can check out a fun behind-the-scenes video from her “Wing Women” photo shoot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMSUSiZRmB0
The final snapshots are truly stunning. She earned the nickname “Catwalk Kate” on set, and managed to outshine the new product with her bubbly personality. (The eyeliner features a precision felt tip for smudge-free, sharp lines. The quick-dry formula will outlast tears, sweat and more for 24 hours of wear.)
With or without winged eyeliner, Grant is a fresh face and someone we would love to see get more work in a diversifying industry. Because it’s about time! “At Benefit, we celebrate women who stand up for what they believe in — which is why we’re working with @kategrantmodel, whose motto is “different is beautiful,” the company wrote on its Instagram announcement, seen below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsrhCpcFiHv/
“The beauty industry is changing and we love that people like Kate are leading the way,” Stoodley told Simplemost in an email. “We’ll most definitely be looking to work with Kate again on another campaign.”