Six-year-old child model Ryan Langston made headlines earlier this month when he appeared in childrenswear campaigns for Target and Nordstrom. The adorable youngster, who has Down’s syndrome, was hailed an inspiration by parents of other children with the same condition, while both retailers were widely praised for not boasting of the casting or calling any special attention to it.
Child star: Ryan (far left), is a natural in front of the camera and loves going on photo shoots, his mother says
Amanda and Jim Langston, from Garwood, New Jersey, told NBC Nightly News how Ryan has been capturing the hearts of casting directors since the age of three, and adores to act up in front of the camera.
Mrs Langston revealed: ‘Ryan loves doing it, and when I say this I don’t think people understand that he knows it’s his thing!
‘I joke all the time that after the shoot is over he does not want to leave, I almost have to drag him out from wherever we are.’
But Ryan’s start in life was far from easy. As well as Down’s syndrome, he was born with a hole in his heart, and had open-heart surgery at just three months old.
His parents believe that the support and guidance Ryan gets from fraternal twin brother Ian, who does not have Down’s, has contributed to his success in a major way.
‘Ian is his big brother, even though they [were born] one minute apart,’ Mrs Langston said. ‘Ian is the big brother, and Ian is taking on that role, and he has that personality. It’s just who he is.’
Ryan’s Target ad attracted attention from across the U.S. after another parent of a child with Down’s syndrome wrote about it.
Rick Smith, who is behind the blog Noah’s Dad, described exactly why, in casting Ryan, Target sent such a positive message about Down’s Syndrome.
He wrote: ‘This wasn’t a “Special Clothing For Special People” catalog. There wasn’t a call out somewhere on the page proudly proclaiming that “Target’s proud to feature a model with Down syndrome in this week’s ad!”… In other words, they didn’t make a big deal out of it. I like that.’
Mr Langston echoed Mr Smith’s sentiment.
‘The fact that [Target and Nordstrom] are not making a big deal – it’s ironic,’ he told NBC. ‘It’s a big deal because they are not making a big deal about it.’
In fact, though, it appears both retailers have long been using people with disabilities in advertising campaigns since the Nineties, and neither have ever felt need to boast of it.
They are not the only ones. Last year Pampers featured a baby with Down’s in a television commercial, and Glee actress Lauren Potter, 21, is a fan favourite for her role as Cheerio Becky.
And Ryan, it seems, is another natural, who certainly loves the attention that comes with his new-found fame.
‘He looks at the Target ad and goes, ‘That’s me!” Mr Langston said. On a more serious note, he continued: ‘The fact that Ryan, how he is, can enlighten people and gives his life value, he can be an ambassador in some way, we were thrilled about that.’
His wife added: ‘He’s a beautiful little boy and he does shine, he has a beautiful little light and I think that’s what people are seeing.’
By Tamara Abraham
dailymail.co.uk, 17/1/2012