Say Hello to France’s First Weather Woman with Down Syndrome
Mélanie Ségard, 21, will be France’s first weather woman with Down Syndrome.
Thanks to a brilliantly successful social media campaign, Melanie will now appear on two French weather programs. Launching a Facebook page Melanie peut le faire (“Melanie can do it”) this remarkable young women set out determinedly to prove that, despite her disability, she was more than capable of being a TV presenter!
Ségard challenged French news outlets to let her present the weather if she earned 100,000 likes on Facebook. She has now smashed that challenge earning more than 204,000 likes!
“Salut à tous, moi c’est Mélanie et mon rêve c’est de présenter la météo. Likez ma page, j’ai besoin de 100 000 likes @melaniepeutlefaire #melaniepeutlefaire”
“I’m different, but I want to show everyone that I can do a lot of things,” Ségard wrote.
French stations listened and hearing her inspirational war cry rose to the challenge and Ségard will go live on France 2 and BFMTV on March 27th to present the weather.
The National Union of Charities for Parents with Disabled Children (UNAPEI), who supported and helped Ségard launch her defining campaign, is rallying behind the Frenchwoman as she gears up for her TV debut.
“People with disabilities are invisible these days,” UNAPEI said in a statement: “The 100,000 likes are a sign of strong support — we are taken aback at how quickly the page became a success.”
How wonderfully beautiful, this gorgeous young woman is nothing short of inspirational. Her determination and drive is something to be admired. What a true, blazing example of setting your mind to something and refusing to let anything stand in your way until you achieve your dreams. Congratulations Melanie, we’ll be cheering you all the way !