EXCHANGE: Documentary features Danville teen's dreams

DANVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A documentary about Ghaliyah "Gigi" Cunningham showcases the teen's love of modeling, her inspiration to others and her enthusiasm for life.

"Being Me: Gigi" is a 28-minute documentary filmed by a New Zealand crew with AttitudeLive, an online collection of documentaries telling stories of people living with disability. The film can be seen on the organization's website.

The film shows how 18-year-old Gigi isn't letting Down Syndrome keep her from her dream of becoming a model. A crew spent a week in Danville in December.

Gigi shines as the cameras follow her around Danville: at home with her parents and brother; in class at Danville High School (she'll be a junior this fall); in a dance class at the Danville Family YMCA; posing in front of the Fischer Theatre; lip synching in her bedroom; on a date at Garfield's restaurant; and striking poses for a photo shoot in Indianapolis.

Gigi talks about her dreams of getting a driver's license, going to college, working as a model in New York City or Los Angeles, and buying a house.

Her mother, Erica Butler, was nervous because she couldn't preview the documentary. However, she and Gigi are thrilled with the finished product.

"It was beautiful. We loved it," Butler said. Gigi was so excited that she watches it every day, she said.

The New Zealand organization saw photos of Gigi, taken by Brandy Williams' MajesticTime Photography in Danville, which went viral last year, and that set in motion the documentary. Williams' photos are featured in the film.

"It's pretty amazing they took the time to come from New Zealand," Butler said.

To the family's surprise, AttitudeLive arranged a meeting with the Helen Wells Agency in Indianapolis. Butler thought it would be a good experience for her daughter. As it turned out, the agency loved her so much that she was signed up — the first teen with a disability to be signed with the company, Butler said.

Gigi also has become the first student with a disability to join the DHS pompette team, Butler said, and she's attending practice this summer. That was a big step, as she had to compete for the spot and learn the choreography.

Gigi also is attending a Down Syndrome camp at Elmhurst College this summer.

"I manage to keep her active," Butler said. In fact, she said about Gigi, "She's just a burst of energy. She's very sassy."

Butler said her goal is to not limit Gigi. "You never set limits on a kid," she said in the documentary, "because you never know if they'll exceed (those limits). So far, she has just soared."

Gigi tends to be shy, but when the camera is on her, she blossoms into a different person.

The documentary shows her striking model poses in her room, and also strutting along the catwalk at the Global Down Syndrome fashion show last year.

"She really likes the camera," Erica said.

Other scenes show her interacting with stepfather, Mike Taylor, and brother, Mekhi Taylor, 11, and cooking (one of her favorite hobbies) with her family.

While the documentary, which can be seen internationally, was thrilling, Gigi has some more excitement on the horizon.

She has recorded a public service announcement with Changing the Face of Beauty, which encourages the integration of individuals with disabilities into general advertising and the media.

Katie Driscoll, founder and president of Changing the Face of Beauty, based in Chicago, said the 15-minute PSA features a mother, young teen (Gigi) and young boy, who discuss how they feel when they're not represented in the media and why they think it's important.

The PSA will be sent to high schools and colleges across the country, upon request, and will include a curriculum to help students see the importance of including the disabled.

"This is our way to bring this to the forefront," Driscoll said. Young people in schools need to see how powerful imagery is, she said.

Hopefully, schools will air the PSA when it's launched late next month, she said.

Gigi also is awaiting word on whether she'll be accepted to LA Fashion Week in October.

In the recent past, she went to Washington, D.C., as an ambassador with the National Down Syndrome Society, and met with lawmakers involving the condition. Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, developmental delays, and often health defects, such as heart problems, obesity and hearing loss.

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Source: The (Danville) Commercial-News, http://bit.ly/29c0rDM

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Information from: Commercial-News, http://www.dancomnews.com

This is an AP-Illinois Exchange story offered by The (Danville) Commercial-News.

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