Be Beautiful Be Yourself Jet Set Fashion Show 2009

As a Colorado native, the 2009 emcee for the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Jet Set Fashion Show has seen Denver go through a lot of changes. Yet over the years, she says one thing has remained the same — her hometown’s generosity.

AJS Foundation: Let’s begin with your involvement in this year’s show. How did your role as emcee for the event come about?

Kim Christiansen: I was just flattered that they asked me to do it. I have a special place in my heart for Down syndrome and have had the opportunity to do many stories over the last several years about children with the disability. I see that the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation is truly changing the overall attitude on the subject and — when John and Anna Sie say it, I know it’s from their hearts — they’re going to make Colorado the best place in the world for people with Down syndrome to live. In all the years that I’ve been reporting, a lot of times people come up with great dreams and goals, but you never see it where it’s an absolute. I’ve seen what they’ve been able to do and it’s so exciting and incredible.

AJS: How do you think the Sie Foundation and the Linda Crnic Institute are going to impact the city?

KC: I certainly think it is going to put us on the global map, as those involved with Down syndrome issues will realize that both the answers and research are going to come from Denver and the Institute. All of a sudden everyone is going to be turning to us to see what’s the latest and what’s the greatest. I think it’s thrilling for us and our state.

AJS: Can you tell us about the Jet Set Fashion Show? What’s in store?

KC: Well, I don’t know all the details yet, but I know the kids are going to steal the show. Like they always say, if there are cute children or puppies just stay out of the way because they are totally upstaging you. But I have to say I’m excited about the show and very excited about meeting Quincy Jones.

AJS: What do you hope the attendees will get out of this year’s event?

KC: I think whenever you’re hosting or putting on a big event like the Jet Set Fashion Show, your goal is to somehow leave people with a lasting memory. I think the models will give them that. Their faces will remind people why they’re there.

AJS: The Denver community seems to be a very involved, very philanthropic community. As a native, why do you think that is?

KC: I think it may be a combination of things. I think it’s because so many people have come here to settle, and although they work very hard, they kept family as the center of their focus. For me — as someone who grew up here and now lives in kind of the same area — the town is so much bigger but there is still that, “take care of your neighbor,” family-oriented philosophy here. If we’re going to fix something, we’ll do it together.
We’re a highly educated community but people have never lost that vision of what they want to do with their studies and intellect. Even though you might have a master’s degree or study medicine, people still maintain that sense of community and use those skills to make Denver a better place. I’ve never met anyone in Denver who just wanted to flaunt money. In fact it’s just the opposite. For the most part they are really humble, quiet, and are philanthropic because it’s the right thing to do.

AJS: Like the Sie Family?

KC: Talk about a family to admire as just a great family. They always say that you’ll do anything for your children, but once you have grandkids you’ll really understand what that means. They are exactly that. They’ve said, “You know what, we have a new mission in our lives. Our granddaughter has given us a new mission.” It’s like a second career, but it is completely driven by their love for their granddaughter. The Sie’s are like my parents and my grandma. My grandmother was very involved in my life and I look back and think that I was the luckiest child alive to have someone who gave me unconditional love.

AJS: Is that why you feel such a need to give back, because of the love that was shown to you?

KC: Once you become a parent you just look at the world in a different way. There are so many things that I love about the world right now. I think our kids can do anything possible. But there are so many things that make me sad. I think that our children have to grow up too early and deal with things they shouldn’t have to. I feel it’s our responsibility to give them the kind of environment that we had as kids. We have to do that with every single child. Belief in your children can take them so many places, perhaps even more so for children with Down syndrome. If they don’t know they have limitations, they can do anything they set their minds to