Justin Timberlake brought both of his sons onto the runway in Denver on November 7, joining their 7-year-old cousin, Zaya Biel, at a fundraiser for people with Down syndrome. The singer held his niece’s hand as the family walked together.
Silas, 11, wore sunglasses, a tie and a bomber jacket, while Phineas, 6, coordinated with his father in black. Zaya wore a polka dot dress and fringed boots, as photographs published by Parade showed.
It was Timberlake’s first appearance at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. His niece, a former GLOBAL Ambassador, had represented the organization in 2024.
Held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, the sold-out event welcomed 1,400 guests and featured 21 models with Down syndrome. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation announced that it raised a record $2.7 million.
Jessica Biel Missed the Event Because of a Filming Commitment
Organizers explained Jessica Biel’s absence in their October announcement. Her filming schedule prevented her from attending, and foundation president and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten said she was delighted to learn that Timberlake would come in his wife’s place.
Zaya is the daughter of Biel’s brother, Justin Biel, and his wife, Rose. Her mother serves on the Sie Center for Down Syndrome Development Board. “Jessica and I adore Zaya, and we couldn’t be prouder of the remarkable difference she is making in the world,” Timberlake said in the announcement.
Biel has previously discussed how the couple approach public appearances with their children. Speaking on Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa in May 2024, she said she wanted their sons to have a say in how visible they became. “These kids didn’t choose this,” she said, according to Entertainment Tonight. She described trying to balance sharing family life with protecting the boys from constant public attention.
Biel Walked With Zaya and Both Boys in 2024
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Biel accompanied Zaya, Silas and Phineas at the November 16, 2024, show. She wore a black gown with feathered detailing, while her niece chose a white tulle dress with a pink ribbon. Afterward, Biel shared photographs on Instagram and called walking beside Zaya an “unforgettable honor.”
Timberlake was touring that year but recorded a message congratulating his niece. In an interview at the event, Biel told Extra that coordinating their working lives could leave the family scattered around the world. “I’m most thankful for time that I get to spend with my family,” she said.
She returned on October 18, 2025. That edition raised $2.6 million and featured Jeremy Renner walking alongside ambassador Guion Macsovits, then a freshman at Regis University, according to the foundation’s 2025 recap.
Kennedy Garcia Returned as an Honoree After Modeling at Nine
This year’s Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipients were television host Maria Menounos and actor Kennedy Garcia. Garcia recalled first walking in the show at nine, when she met Jones and GLOBAL Ambassador DeOndra Dixon.
Garcia now plays Felicity Greene on Days of Our Lives, making her onscreen debut in May 2024. Her event biography also documents her work as an advocate and public speaker, including visits to more than 100 schools and colleges. She began her professional career in modeling before moving into television and film.
Geena Davis accompanied 2026 ambassador Letizia Napoleone, a 23-year-old aspiring actor and model whose family traveled from New York City, London and São Paulo. Christian Slater, Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor were among the other guests.
The Proceeds Support Research and Specialized Medical Care
The foundation says the proceeds support its research and clinical affiliates, including the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Alzheimer’s & Cognition Center, the Sie Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the GLOBAL Adult Clinic at Denver Health.
At Children’s Colorado, the Sie Center combines medical care with physical, speech and occupational therapy, psychological support and educational services. Its team also helps families coordinate appointments with other specialists, arranging visits on the same day or across a few days when possible.
The center provides support beyond childhood, too. Its transition services help patients ages 18 to 22 move into care at Denver Health’s adult program, instead of leaving families to navigate that change alone.