We recently connected with Madison Tevlin and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Madison, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

When I was 12, I had a vocal coach who really believed in me. I’ve always loved music and singing, and my parents helped me explore it by giving me the opportunity to have lessons. For some people with Down syndrome, singing doesn’t come easy, but I was determined and practiced a lot.

At the end of our lessons, we went into the studio and recorded a cover of “All of Me” by John Legend – a song I absolutely loved at the time. My vocal coach Marla posted the video on YouTube, like she did for all of her students. At first I thought only family and friends would see it, but the video ended up going viral. This is the moment everything changed for me.

Soon after, I was invited to perform for the Special Olympics where I got to sing with Cody Simpson and Marc from O.A.R.
I began to get more opportunities. I became a recurring character on a couple of Canadian TV shows, and eventually landed my dream role in the film Champions with Woody Harrelson.

It was a big risk, but one that definitely changed my life. If I learned anything, it’s that scary and challenging things sometimes lead to amazing opportunities – you just have to be brave enough to try.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an actor, host, model, content creator, keynote speaker and advocate. I started out in this industry when I was 13 years old and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but once I started, I knew I didn’t want to stop!

I’m most proud of how much I’ve grown and the opportunities that I’ve been able to go after. I have a lot of amazing people who believe in me and it’s been incredible to show the world what I can do. I want to continue with the stories I get to share, continue to advocate for myself and other people and keep working at things that I love.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think the most rewarding thing about working in a creative industry is being able to prove what’s possible. Not just to others, but also to myself. I love challenging expectations and breaking down barriers in new ways and showing the world that talent, determination and going after your dreams is bigger than the labels that people want to put on us.

Every time I get to interview someone new and every new role I get to play is a chance to use my voice to inspire others, especially those who have been told that they “can’t”.

I want people to see me on screen, on runways, and on stage and realize that they can also dream big. It’s about representation and impact, and making space for voices that deserve to be heard! And I love doing it all! Hearing and telling stories and making people feel something. Being vulnerable and authentic is a powerful thing that creative people can bring to this world.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

One of the biggest challenges that someone with a disability has isn’t talent or doing the job, it’s the assumptions. Too often, people decide what we can’t do before we even have the chance to show them what we can do.

My dream is that society shifts its mindset to see us as worthy of the same opportunities as everyone else. We want to be taken seriously and seen for our value and our worth.

I want to see more actors with disabilities in lead roles, writing scripts, directing projects, and making decisions behind the scenes. We deserve to be seen, heard, and respected—not as feel-good stories, but as professionals who get a seat at all tables.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madisontevlin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisontevlin/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-tevlin-b28138351/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MadisonTevlin

Image Credits
tiktok photo – credit: Ana Netto victoria’s secret photo – credit: Grace Tevlin black & white step & repeat photo – credit: George Pimentel clinton global initiative – credit: Juliana Thomas