Rocklin's shining star: City honors student actor/advocate and lover of life

Seven years ago, 14-year-old Rocklin resident Sofia Sanchez went viral and she has been using that spotlight to bring amazing things to the world since. Touting that "Down Syndrome is Not Scary" in her viral video seven years ago has sent Sofia on a journey of advocacy and living life to its fullest. She has been in a number of modeling campaigns and just this past year she walked the pink carpet at the Barbie premiere and starred as a tribute in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." Her story began 14 years ago when a Rocklin family adopted her from an orphanage in Ukraine. Her mother, Jennifer Varanini, said after having her son, Joaquin, her family wanted to support babies who were left behind in orphanages because of Down syndrome. Joaquin also has Down syndrome. "We were head over heels in love with our child," Varanini said. "We couldn't understand who wanted to miss out on this unique experience." This led the Sanchez family to travel to Ukraine to adopt Sofia, who's one year younger than Joaquin. With "just a little care and love," Sofia began to thrive with the Sanchez family in Rocklin. Her transformation was immediate, Varanini said. "Organically, she just has a spark," Varanini said. "I just find opportunities for her to shine." Seven years ago, Varanini picked up her phone with the intention of capturing her daughter in a video, and she began to ask Sofia her thoughts about Down syndrome. "Hearing it from a child who is not burdened at all by her disability, it spoke to the world," Varanini said. Shortly after that video went viral, Sofia was given modeling opportunities and she has been living a life full of "yes, let's try that" since. Sofia made her acting debut in the TV series "Switched at Birth" and appeared in films like "For Paloma" and "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." She's also graced print ads and commercials for renowned brands like Old Navy and Target, and her inspiring adoption story has led to a series of picture books with Scholastic, including the titles "You Are Enough," "You Are Loved" and coming in April, "You Are Brave." Not only is her next book coming out in April, Sofia is scheduled to deliver a TED Talk about having Down syndrome in Reno. When she's not busy as an actress, author or advocate, Sofia is a typical freshman at Whitney High School who is on the cheer team. "I love helping people, meeting new people and sharing my message that 'you are enough' and 'you are loved' just the way you are," Sofia said. "We are all different, and that's beautiful." She said she wants to keep acting and modeling and speaking and writing more books. Her future looks bright, as she said she hopes to go to college, get a job, get married and travel the world. She said she also wants to potentially work at Disneyland someday, maybe as the first princess with Down syndrome. "My goal in life is to be kind to everyone and spread love and joy and peace," Sofia said. This week, she was honored at the Rocklin City Council meeting for her work as an advocate for the Down syndrome community.