At the fresh age of 12 years old, Grace Rose Bauer had her first fashion show in Los Angeles. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby, she started her Rosie G. Grace clothing line to raise awareness and funds for the disease.
Ranging from dresses to T-shirts, Rosie G, which launched in 2013, is all about color, style and comfort for the young girl. Embracing her infectious positivity, many of her pieces are adorned with inspirational messages, echoing her uplifting attitude about her health.
"We don't want to think of [cystic fibrosis] as a positive thing, but we also don't want to look at it as a negative thing," Bauer told Forbes, regarding empowering children with the disease. "You never know what someone is dealing with at home, and that's something all kids can really relate to."
As a sixth grader at a performing arts academy, Bauer is also an aspiring singer and dancer. The name of her line comes from her entertainer alter ego, who loves to dress up, put on some lipgloss, and sing and dance her heart out. With its growing success, her apparel business has become a full-time gig for her mother Leah Bauer and a balancing act for the ambitious student.
"She's officially my 12-year-old boss," said Leah to Today. "But I see a lot of potential here. I see how excited she gets, and how excited her friends get, and how inspiring it is. And I'm dedicated to the cause."
A New Orleans native who relocated to Los Angeles post Hurricane Katrina, Bauer notes both cities as her inspiration. When designing and hand picking the fabrics, Grace keeps the 3 C's in mind: cute, colorful and comfortable.
Even with a life-threatening disease that attacks her lungs and digestive system, Bauer is a determined force that is turning what life has thrown at her into something amazing and beneficial for her and others. Bauer's achievements prove that age and disease are anything but roadblocks.
Photo credit: @rosiegstyle
