Super Kids
Courtney Gaines is living a life of firsts. Now a 16-year-old sophomore at Choctaw High School, when in elementary school she was the first from her class selected for Choctaw’s Jumping Jackets troop, performing jump rope tricks. She was the first Oklahoman chosen to participate in the Be Beautiful, Be Yourself Fashion Show, held in Las Vegas, Nev., in November. Along with her mom DeAnna and brother Isaiah, Courtney is launching her own company, CloZet 21c, this spring to aid nonprofit organizations serving people with special needs and historically black colleges and universities.
of the Metro
Living to Serve: Courtney Gaines
BY ERIN PAGE . PHOTOS PROVIDED.
Courtney is active in JROTC, student council, choir and her church, happiest when surrounded by friends and family. She is an ambassador for Girl Trek, a nonprofit orga - nization aimed at getting African American females engaged with physical activity. She works to encourage girls with special needs because, as mom DeAnna reports, the obesity rate is higher among this group because of limited mobility. All of Courtney’s work on behalf of indi- viduals with special needs is personal. She happens to have Down syndrome, but the tenacious teen is determined to live her life in such a way that everyone she meets will only focus on her abilities. “She has no fear,” said DeAnna. “I can’t think of anything she wouldn’t try. And she’s one of the friendliest people, always giving hugs and encouraging others.” Outward focus Courtney finds fun and fulfillment among typically developing teens, like on her soccer team, and with individuals with special
needs, as she does on the Shining Starz cheerleading squad. It was that belief in herself, along with her compassion and infectious smile, that cinched her spot in the Be Beautiful, Be Yourself Fashion Show. A fundraiser for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, with proceeds benefiting medical care and research, Court - ney auditioned for the show this past spring. Anyone with Down syndrome, age 7 or older, can apply, and 20 self-advocate models were selected for the 2019 show. Celebrities escort each of the models, with actress Mikaela Hoover escorting Court- ney down the runway. Courtney also loved meeting actor, producer and director Henry Winkler, musician Quincy Jones, actor Jamie Foxx and self-advocate DeOndra Dixon, Foxx’s sister. True to her outgoing nature, Courtney presented Dixon with a Girl Trek hoodie. DeAnna was moved by their interac- tion as Dixon pledged to become more active in Girl Trek, thanks to Courtney’s inspiration. But Courtney’s favorite part of participating in the show was knowing the tremendous impact it makes on Down syndrome research and medical care, with close to one million dollars raised this year, according to DeAnna.
COURTNEY IS PASSIONATE ABOUT EXERCISE.
“It helps a lot of people, and I like helping people,” said Courtney. That same drive sparked the idea for Courtney’s company CloZet 21, launching in March. The company will sell clothing and
48 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JANUARY 2020
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