A teenager who was born with Down syndrome has defied doctors' expectations by thriving better than they imagined — and now she is not only living a happy life, but she has a boyfriend and a burgeoning modeling career.

When 15-year-old Kennedy Garcia was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, doctors said that she'd have no quality of life, predicting she'd be wearing diapers as an adult.

But according to Metro, her mother Renee, 40, was determined that she'd do better than that, and now Kennedy is signed to a talent agency, goes to New York and Hollywood for auditions, and has booked modeling gigs for American Girl, Justice Clothing, and Disney.

Overcoming: When 15-year-old Kennedy Garcia was born in Colorado Springs in Colorado, doctors said that she'd have no quality of life because she has Down syndrome

Take that! Now Kennedy is signed to a talent agency and goes to New York and Hollywood for auditions

On fire! She has booked modeling gigs for American Girl, Justice Clothing, Disney, and more

According to Renee, doctors and medical professionals were shockingly dismissive when Kennedy was born, recommending Renee 'give her up for adoption' or put her in an institution.

She said they painted a 'bleak picture' of Kennedy's life with Down syndrome, and she was 'heartbroken.

But the next day, she had an encounter that changed everything: A midwife said that Kennedy was beautiful, and mentioned that she also had a daughter with Down syndrome.

The midwife told her about her own 16-year-old daughter, giving Renee a 'glimmer of hope' for the future.

But Kennedy's struggles weren't over. She also battled leukemia, and had to have dangerous surgery to correct a spinal condition that could have left her paralyzed.

Awful: Her mother Renee said that when Kennedy was born, doctors recommended she put her in an institution, and one even said she should put her up for adoption

Hope: Renee met a midwife the next day, who told her all about her own daughter with Down syndrome, and how she was thriving

Not easy, Kennedy went on to have more health problems including leukemia, but she's doing well now

She had to wear a metal frame screwed to her skull for six months, entertaining herself by watching dance videos even while she herself was immobilized.

But she recovered, and once she was well enough, started taking dance classes of her own.

‘She was absolutely in her element, and we haven’t looked back since,' Renee said.

Kennedy went on to take up modeling and acting, signing with KMR Diversity and Dream Talent Management agency.

She goes on auditions in New York and LA, scoring modeling jobs and gigs as an extra on TV shows — and recently appeared in a commercial for the US census.

She's also modeled for Zulily and Aetna and appeared on the hit show This is Us.

Famous: She regularly flies to New York and LA to audition for modeling and acting gigs

Making a name for herself! She's walked runways and appeared on This is Us

The odds-beating teenager is thriving on a personal level, too. She is close to her siblings Kassidy, 20, Kameron, 18, and Keegan, 12, and has a 'posse' of friends, according to her mom.

‘She has brought so much joy and laughter into our lives and has grown into a gorgeous, funny young woman with the world at her feet,' her mom said.

Kennedy also has a boyfriend, whom she met at age 12 at an audition.

Matthew, 19, also has a genetic condition, but was bold enough to walk over an introduce himself.

'He came straight over, handed Kennedy his mobile and said, "I think my phone’s broken because it’s missing your number,"' Renee recalled.

Bond: She also has a boyfriend, 19-year-old Matthew, whom she met when she was 12

Young ove: They FaceTime and visit each other regularly, and have even gone to homecoming together

Smooth! They met at an audition, where Matthew 'handed Kennedy his mobile and said, "I think my phone’s broken because it’s missing your number"

'I couldn’t believe what a smooth talker he was but I loved how brave and funny he was. I knew then he and Kennedy would be great friends, but at the time, Kennedy said she didn’t understand what Matthew was talking about.'

When Renee explained that Matthew liked her, Kennedy was 'thrilled,' and they've gone on to become a couple, FaceTiming, going to his homecoming dance, and visiting each other once a month.

'This was the same child doctors told me needed to be put in an institution,' Renee said. 'It’s shocking how misinformed they all were, and it was only 15 years ago.'

Speaking to The Mighty, Renee said the world has come a long way.

'I feel like progress is being made,' she said. 'Kennedy is pretty much accepted wherever we go.

Thriving: Kennedy is also close to her three siblings and has an active social life

'She and I co-run her Instagram where her followers are made up of lots of different walks of life,' said her mom

Spreading her message: Kennedy talks in schools about Down syndrome

'She and I co-run her Instagram where her followers are made up of lots of different walks of life. It’s been so neat to see the different backgrounds they come from, the support they give her and the questions they ask simply because they want to understand.

'Most of all they see that she is a pretty typical teen who loves to text her friends, hang out at the mall, make videos on Tik Tok and talk about boys.'

She said that Kennedy also goes to middle schools and high schools to talk about Down syndrome, and how teens can be friends with kids with disabilities.

'The fact that these teachers and schools are even giving her the opportunity to come in and speak shows how much progress has been made in recent years.' she said.

Ultimately, she wants her daughter to be happy.

'I just want her to be happy with wherever her life takes her,' she said. 'I have no doubt she will continue to grow into an independent, strong, amazing adult whether she is acting, modeling, going to college, public speaking or finds her passion elsewhere in the workplace. I just hope she continues to live her best life no matter what.'