By BRIDGET MUDGE
SUNY Stony Brook (for Huntington Now)
When Alexia Rivera’s smile flashed across a Times Square jumbotron during a Down Syndrome fundraiser this month, it wasn’t just a moment of recognition — it was a symbol of everything she has accomplished. From beauty campaigns with Sephora to co-founding a boxing program, she continues to redefine what’s possible.
Rivera’s rise has been anything but ordinary. In an industry where diversity is still finding its footing, she has emerged as a fresh and fearless voice, showing the world that Down Syndrome is not a limitation but a different kind of strength. Whether she’s in front of the camera or in the boxing ring, her presence commands attention, inspiring countless others to chase their own dreams without hesitation. The Walt Whitman life skills student is featured in the Sephora in-store and digital holiday ad campaigns both nationally and internationally.
The first modeling job Alexia got was CVS Beauty in 2023 under the tagline, “Beauty Unaltered.” She appeared in stores, both online and in person, as well as their social media accounts. Under ZBD Talent modeling agency, Alexia has been able to continue booking jobs that have helped her become a familiar face in the Down Syndrome modeling space.
As her mom, Alexandria, is in the fashion industry, she has many Vogue magazines spread throughout the house. One day, her idol Ellie Goldstein, who is a Down Syndrome model, was featured on the front cover. Alexia said she saw it and said, “Oh my God, she has my face. I want to be like her.”
Ella Cooper, a talent agent at ZBD, has worked alongside Alexia and has helped her book jobs. She is so proud that she gets to represent Alexia and watch her grow her career.
“She has such a bright and bubbly personality with the most infectious smile. Her love for the arts, like fashion, acting and dance, is very clear in her work, making her an asset to our roster and the wider industry,” Cooper said. “She is also a communicative, dependable and driven member of the ZBD family, who is always receiving high praise wherever she goes.”
The Sephora campaign, “Give Something Beautiful” reached the whole of the U.S., along with Canada and Mexico, as well in all Kohl’s stores. It was released in October of 2023 and became a part of their advertising for the holiday season. Since then, it has reached international Sephora stores as well as on their online website. Projected out the front of the stores, shoppers see Alexia and her mom with cheerful smiles and embracing in a hug.
“She said she felt like she was on a cloud,” Rivera said. “I nearly passed out; I was like ‘Whoa! What is this?’I was almost crying; I couldn’t believe I saw her face on this giant poster in the mall.”
The Rivera family suffered a major setback in 2017. Alexia had a stroke, causing her to be rushed to hospital, and was diagnosed with Moyamoya Syndrome, which is when the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain narrow, causing a limit of blood flow to the brain. Even though Alexia continued to smile, but she had to get a bilateral revascularization surgery of her brain which left her paralyzed on the left side of her body.
“It broke my spirit as a mom to see her in pain and not understand why and knowing that I can’t help her was really hard,” Rivera said. “It was a horrific time for me to see her like that, I guess I was more heartbroken than she was because somehow, she still found a way to smile at me every day.”
It took Alexia a few months to get her movement back, but after a lot of determination, she managed to beat it. Rivera knew “nothing was going to stop her.”
Modeling career aside, she is also a passionate boxer and even the co-founder of the BoxFit Experience program at her father’s gym. Alexia came up with the original vision for it, and with help from her family and the gym staff, she was able to bring it to life. It is designed for “people with differing abilities to do a cardio-boxing program.’’
“We try to give to the community as much as possible and help everyone reach their best limit, and really reach to new heights. This gives lots of people the opportunity to not only strengthen and improve mental health, but also provides an outlet for people to socialise and
connect,” Rivera said.
Currently, Alexia has started a new transition program with Tommy’s Friends, designed for people that have developmental disabilities to attend once they finish high school. The program runs for 2 years, and she will learn simple adulting skills that majority of individuals would take for granted.
Not only is she a hardworking student, but she is also a barista in training at her local Gregory’s Coffee. She is a multitasker, making sandwiches, parfaits, drinks, and even earned the title of the “parfait queen.” In her spare time, she also volunteers at her local church, assisting with food festivals.
Throughout all her challenges and achievements, she has created the motto “Don’t limit yourself, just go for it!” which she lives by.
The fundraiser, Buddy Walk, started in 1995, is an advocacy event for the National Down Syndrome Society to raise funds to support and raise public awareness for the Down Syndrome community. Their mission is to empower individuals with Down Syndrome and their families by providing resources, engaging with local communities, and shifting public perceptions. Alexia raised over $1,300 for the organization.
“They are a terrific organization, and we are so happy to work with them to really promote inclusivity, spread awareness and give hope to others,” Rivera said.
Bridget Mudge is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s
School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
