How Grace Achieved the Impossible and Proved That We Can Change Our Destiny

26 years ago, Grace Strobel was born with Down syndrome, and doctors said that she wouldn’t be able to read or tie her shoes. Today, she has become a determined young lady, a model who is shaking up the beauty industry, and an activist who is touring schools and inspiring thousands of children. Her goal is clear and powerful — she wants “people to rethink what’s possible.”

At Bright Side, we were impressed by Grace’s one-of-a-kind story. Her willingness to turn her struggles into a mission to help others proves that we all have the power to make the world a better place.

Born to be different

When Linda first heard that her unborn child might have Down syndrome, her ’’world was rocked,’’ and she said that ’’terrified was an understatement.’’ She and her husband were alerted about how complicated her child’s life would be and the struggles she would likely have to face. A few months later, Grace was born, and when her mom looked into her eyes, she thought, ’’She was the most beautiful thing in the whole world.’’

Grace’s parents were determined to help their daughter reach her full potential. They were set on giving her the best education, diet, physical fitness, and social skills to allow her to have ’’the fullest and most complete life as she possibly could.’’ At 3 years old, their little girl had already started reading sight words, and by 5, she had tested at a second-grade level.

Facing hardships and rising above them

As the years went by, Grace paved her way and worked hard. But as her mother admits, the most complicated part of her educational years was ’’the incredibly low expectations the world put on her.’’ A speech therapist even once said to the doting mom that Grace ’’would most likely never have a job or work full time.’’ The mother also added, ’’She didn’t think part-time work was in her future either.’’

All the affection that Grace was showered with since she was born helped her forge a strong and healthy personality. She was able to brush off all the mean remarks she received from her classmates and bravely ignored the stares she got from strangers. Her life wasn’t conventional, but she proved that when we are raised with love, we can face anything that life or other people throw at us. She even used these very obstacles as stepping stones to shine brighter.

The Grace Effect

And Grace certainly did shine, and she was determined to bask others in her light as well. The mother and daughter duo created a plan called The Grace Effect. It is an ’’inclusivity mission with an interactive presentation for schools to promote disability awareness.’’ Its mission is to change things, empower kids, and share with other students what it means to face obstacles and also overcome them.

A flourishing modeling career

Grace’s story and mission were so inspiring that they quickly spread and touched others. She became a disability activist and a model. Her photos went viral with over 220,000 shares on Facebook from all over the world. She did interviews on TV and radio, and she’s been featured in numerous major publications, such as Forbes, and even walked runway shows.

Grace also became the very first American model to represent a skincare line. She has also partnered with Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty.

And she’s just getting started...

When looking at how busy and driven Grace is, we can undoubtedly say that she’s still only at the beginning of a very long and inspiring journey. Her story is touching because she is living proof that our hardships are the very tools that allow us to find our inner strength. And, as Grace says, “Let no one tell you what you can or cannot achieve. Push those boundaries and live.”

Did you find Grace’s story inspiring? Do you agree that our differences are also our strengths?