Amanda DSilva chosen from 2,600 global entries for iconic NDSS campaign in New York
On September 6, 2025, Amanda DSilva, a 22-year-old Indian-origin woman born and raised in Dubai, will be featured on the giant digital screens of Times Square, New York, as part of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Times Square Video Presentation. Her photograph was chosen from over 2,600 entries submitted worldwide, making her one of over 500 individuals highlighted in this global awareness initiative, reportedtimesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The annual video presentation, regarded as one of NDSS’s most powerful public awareness campaigns, will run on two Jumbotron screens in Father Duffy Square from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM (ET). For UAE audiences, the event will be livestreamed on the NDSS Facebook page between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM local time.
Amanda’s inclusion is part of a landmark event that celebrates the lives, stories, and representation of people with Down Syndrome across the world
Amanda’s photograph was among 500 selected to represent individuals with Down syndrome from all 50 U.S. states and 11 countries. The event is made possible by ClearChannel Outdoor, which provides the iconic advertising space in Times Square to spotlight inclusion and advocacy.
From Dubai classroom to Times Square spotlight
Amanda was born and raised in Dubai to parents of Mangaluru and Mumbai origin. The youngest of two daughters, she studied in a mainstream school under the GEMS Education group before pursuing a professional career. Today, she works full-time as a hostess at a French restaurant in Sofitel Downtown Dubai while also taking assignments as a freelance model celebrating diversity and inclusion. Her elder sister, currently based in Canada, will join the family in New York for the special occasion.
Purpose behind the campaign
The Times Square presentation marks the opening of the New York City Buddy Walk, NDSS’s flagship awareness and fundraising program founded in 1995. Today, the Buddy Walk is the world’s largest Down Syndrome advocacy initiative, with over 150 annual events in the U.S. and globally.
By projecting faces like Amanda’s on one of the world’s most visible platforms, NDSS aims to normalize representation and inspire social inclusion. “Amanda’s picture is contagious, one smile and your heart feels lighter,” NDSS said in a statement, underscoring the emotional impact of the campaign.
Founded in 1979, NDSS remains the leading human rights organisation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the U.S., working in education, employment, health, and wellness to build an inclusive future.
