On this month's myFace, myStory podcast, host Dina Zuckerberg speaks with Paige Lauren Billiot, a birthmark advocate, model, and film producer redefining beauty standards. Based in LA, Paige uses her platform to create representation for those with facial differences, celebrating her birthmark as her superpower. Featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, and Glamour, she challenges societal norms and empowers others to embrace their uniqueness with confidence. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on self-love, advocacy, and the power of authentic representation.

 

TRANSCRIPT 

00:01:34.618 --> 00:01:37.480 Hello, and welcome to My Face, My Story,

00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:40.100 voices from the craniofacial community.

00:01:40.921 --> 00:01:41.981 I'm Dena Zuckerberg,

00:01:42.042 --> 00:01:43.483 your host and director of

00:01:43.503 --> 00:01:45.343 family programs at My Face.

00:01:46.183 --> 00:01:47.444 Like many of you listening,

00:01:47.765 --> 00:01:49.344 I have a craniofacial difference.

00:01:50.165 --> 00:01:52.206 I was born with a cleft lip,

00:01:52.826 --> 00:01:53.807 a hearing loss,

00:01:53.986 --> 00:01:55.647 and no vision in my left eye.

00:01:56.709 --> 00:01:57.331 My Face,

00:01:57.370 --> 00:01:59.432 My Story is about people like us

00:01:59.512 --> 00:02:00.893 being seen and heard,

00:02:01.492 --> 00:02:02.694 about sharing stories

00:02:02.733 --> 00:02:04.015 within the craniofacial

00:02:04.034 --> 00:02:05.977 community and with others.

00:02:07.016 --> 00:02:08.758 This podcast episode is made

00:02:08.818 --> 00:02:10.259 possible through support

00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.920 from the Integra Foundation,

00:02:12.420 --> 00:02:14.223 committed to improving lives.

00:02:15.362 --> 00:02:15.943 By the way,

00:02:16.183 --> 00:02:17.044 whether you're watching on

00:02:17.104 --> 00:02:18.425 YouTube or listening

00:02:18.466 --> 00:02:19.926 through Apple Podcasts,

00:02:20.306 --> 00:02:22.147 click subscribe now and

00:02:22.168 --> 00:02:23.368 we'll keep you updated on

00:02:23.429 --> 00:02:25.730 future episodes so you never miss out.

00:02:27.320 --> 00:02:29.542 And if you're a fan of My Face, My Story,

00:02:30.062 --> 00:02:31.461 please rate and review the

00:02:31.502 --> 00:02:33.423 program on Apple Podcasts

00:02:33.883 --> 00:02:35.143 so we can get our message

00:02:35.242 --> 00:02:36.383 of inclusivity and

00:02:36.424 --> 00:02:38.985 empowerment to more people.

00:02:39.185 --> 00:02:41.585 Today, I am joined by Paige Villiat.

00:02:42.126 --> 00:02:44.765 Paige is a birthmark advocate, model,

00:02:44.925 --> 00:02:45.986 and film producer,

00:02:46.206 --> 00:02:47.806 creating global birthmark

00:02:47.866 --> 00:02:49.407 representation and

00:02:49.448 --> 00:02:51.627 awareness within the beauty, fashion,

00:02:51.748 --> 00:02:53.028 and media industries.

00:02:53.808 --> 00:02:55.289 She uses social media to

00:02:55.389 --> 00:02:56.569 highlight her birthmark

00:02:57.062 --> 00:02:59.462 with makeup, props, graphic design,

00:02:59.643 --> 00:03:00.823 and VFX.

00:03:01.663 --> 00:03:02.883 Her influence has been

00:03:02.984 --> 00:03:04.804 recognized in many magazines,

00:03:05.004 --> 00:03:08.045 including Harper's Bazaar, Seventeen,

00:03:08.246 --> 00:03:09.925 Glamour, and Women's Health,

00:03:10.605 --> 00:03:11.866 earning her a spot on

00:03:11.907 --> 00:03:13.206 Glamour's fifty

00:03:13.306 --> 00:03:14.587 Instagrammers you need to

00:03:14.627 --> 00:03:15.568 follow right now.

00:03:16.786 --> 00:03:18.105 When she isn't advocating

00:03:18.145 --> 00:03:19.806 for the birthmark community,

00:03:20.326 --> 00:03:21.366 she loves taking her

00:03:21.427 --> 00:03:22.948 forecast on walks in their

00:03:22.987 --> 00:03:24.989 strollers while expanding

00:03:25.049 --> 00:03:27.149 her chai tea latte palette

00:03:27.269 --> 00:03:30.389 and Scooby Doo collection.

00:03:30.430 --> 00:03:31.211 Welcome Paige.

00:03:35.951 --> 00:03:36.352 Hi,

00:03:36.572 --> 00:03:37.592 I really look forward to our

00:03:37.612 --> 00:03:38.312 conversations.

00:03:39.062 --> 00:03:39.622 Hello.

00:03:39.701 --> 00:03:41.524 Yes, I'm so excited to be here.

00:03:41.663 --> 00:03:43.025 When you asked me to join,

00:03:43.625 --> 00:03:45.325 I could not wait to have a

00:03:45.346 --> 00:03:46.167 conversation with you.

00:03:46.766 --> 00:03:48.489 I'm excited.

00:03:48.628 --> 00:03:50.810 So can you share a bit about

00:03:50.849 --> 00:03:52.230 your personal journey and

00:03:53.252 --> 00:03:54.473 how you came to embrace

00:03:54.492 --> 00:03:56.174 your birthmark as your superpower?

00:03:57.377 --> 00:03:57.798 Oh, man.

00:03:57.858 --> 00:03:58.079 I mean,

00:03:58.098 --> 00:04:00.180 that's I think any self accepting

00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:02.382 journey is quite the ride, I'm sure,

00:04:02.401 --> 00:04:04.963 as you know, and a very long one.

00:04:06.444 --> 00:04:08.626 I still feel like it's, you know,

00:04:08.665 --> 00:04:10.187 I'm still learning about myself.

00:04:10.247 --> 00:04:11.889 I'm still learning deeper

00:04:11.929 --> 00:04:13.810 levels of love and acceptance.

00:04:15.151 --> 00:04:18.052 But, yeah, I for most of my life.

00:04:19.713 --> 00:04:21.336 I would say up until, you know,

00:04:22.237 --> 00:04:23.338 a little outside of high

00:04:23.418 --> 00:04:24.439 school is when I started to

00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:26.661 get a little bit definitely

00:04:26.701 --> 00:04:28.504 more consistently comfortable with,

00:04:28.584 --> 00:04:28.863 you know,

00:04:28.923 --> 00:04:30.045 just kind of going outside the

00:04:30.064 --> 00:04:32.168 house without makeup just to run errands.

00:04:33.069 --> 00:04:35.290 I remember the end of high school,

00:04:35.670 --> 00:04:37.814 I stopped wearing like, you know,

00:04:39.278 --> 00:04:39.978 more full coverage

00:04:39.999 --> 00:04:41.420 foundation and just doing

00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:43.201 kind of like powder over the birthmark.

00:04:43.821 --> 00:04:45.322 So it was a very gradual

00:04:45.442 --> 00:04:47.903 process of accepting and

00:04:48.485 --> 00:04:49.665 then fully embracing.

00:04:49.985 --> 00:04:54.228 And how ironically life can

00:04:54.269 --> 00:04:55.310 be with having a birthmark

00:04:55.370 --> 00:04:56.009 on half of my face,

00:04:56.069 --> 00:04:57.151 I wanted to be an actress

00:04:57.271 --> 00:04:57.891 at a very young age.

00:04:59.012 --> 00:05:01.595 And I did that at high school.

00:05:01.634 --> 00:05:02.536 I was a performing arts

00:05:02.576 --> 00:05:03.877 major at Las Vegas Academy

00:05:03.896 --> 00:05:05.658 of Performing Arts International Studies,

00:05:05.678 --> 00:05:06.740 which was actually really,

00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:08.862 really fun and really great

00:05:08.901 --> 00:05:10.103 for the self-confidence and

00:05:10.122 --> 00:05:11.285 just being able to perform.

00:05:11.745 --> 00:05:12.826 I had my birthmark covered,

00:05:12.886 --> 00:05:14.168 but still being on stage

00:05:14.187 --> 00:05:15.348 and just being in that environment.

00:05:16.456 --> 00:05:20.702 And then when I moved out to LA in,

00:05:20.802 --> 00:05:22.084 very much the intention of

00:05:22.144 --> 00:05:24.067 being in front and behind the camera,

00:05:24.127 --> 00:05:24.887 always wanted to be a

00:05:24.947 --> 00:05:26.430 filmmaker to some capacity.

00:05:27.791 --> 00:05:29.634 And I took two years of

00:05:30.175 --> 00:05:31.196 trying to do the thing,

00:05:31.295 --> 00:05:33.117 trying to get an agent, the auditions,

00:05:33.137 --> 00:05:34.019 the managers,

00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:36.862 I'm trying to get into just short films,

00:05:36.901 --> 00:05:38.742 student films, whatever I could get into.

00:05:38.762 --> 00:05:41.144 And, you know,

00:05:41.204 --> 00:05:42.446 it was a very consistent

00:05:42.565 --> 00:05:44.387 pattern of confusion.

00:05:45.168 --> 00:05:47.689 And, you know,

00:05:47.769 --> 00:05:49.610 some of the same comments of just,

00:05:49.630 --> 00:05:50.612 we don't know where to put you.

00:05:50.651 --> 00:05:51.672 You're too distracting.

00:05:52.812 --> 00:05:53.072 You know,

00:05:53.132 --> 00:05:55.574 like we're very confused on like

00:05:55.615 --> 00:05:56.696 where to place you.

00:05:56.896 --> 00:05:57.096 Yeah.

00:05:58.317 --> 00:05:59.677 and I got you know I reached

00:05:59.898 --> 00:06:01.538 a threshold at a point and

00:06:01.658 --> 00:06:03.000 I got really frustrated at

00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:04.161 the process and I just

00:06:04.201 --> 00:06:05.000 realized you know what I

00:06:05.021 --> 00:06:05.841 just kind of have to make

00:06:05.882 --> 00:06:07.583 something on my own which

00:06:07.762 --> 00:06:09.163 really isn't that different

00:06:09.204 --> 00:06:10.584 of a story that I I think

00:06:10.665 --> 00:06:12.906 everybody in l.a ends up

00:06:13.065 --> 00:06:14.247 coming to realize at some

00:06:14.286 --> 00:06:15.648 point anyways that like you

00:06:15.708 --> 00:06:16.668 just you're gonna have to

00:06:16.708 --> 00:06:20.471 just kind of make your own stuff right

00:06:21.146 --> 00:06:24.408 So being really frustrated, I didn't,

00:06:24.867 --> 00:06:26.048 I couldn't make a film overnight,

00:06:26.228 --> 00:06:27.848 but I could take a photo.

00:06:28.389 --> 00:06:28.689 And I,

00:06:29.250 --> 00:06:30.470 that's when I started the Instagram.

00:06:30.509 --> 00:06:33.290 This was like mid-TwentyFifteen.

00:06:33.552 --> 00:06:34.331 I just, I felt

00:06:35.524 --> 00:06:36.624 really conflicted.

00:06:37.464 --> 00:06:39.045 I wanted so badly to be a

00:06:39.105 --> 00:06:41.906 representation in this space,

00:06:41.946 --> 00:06:43.846 but just also just in general.

00:06:44.887 --> 00:06:45.786 But at the same time,

00:06:45.846 --> 00:06:46.786 I was still struggling on

00:06:46.846 --> 00:06:49.588 my own of just how to be

00:06:49.668 --> 00:06:51.468 seen and be seen confidently,

00:06:52.329 --> 00:06:53.968 what my voice was, where to share it.

00:06:54.129 --> 00:06:56.009 And so the Instagram,

00:06:56.069 --> 00:06:57.449 I started the Instagram and

00:06:57.470 --> 00:06:58.589 started taking some photos

00:06:58.649 --> 00:07:00.250 where my birthmark was kind

00:07:00.290 --> 00:07:01.031 of the highlight.

00:07:01.271 --> 00:07:01.430 Sorry,

00:07:01.451 --> 00:07:02.591 I can kind of hear my cat in the

00:07:02.632 --> 00:07:03.132 background.

00:07:04.312 --> 00:07:06.112 He's supportive, cheerleading in the back.

00:07:06.213 --> 00:07:08.274 There you go.

00:07:08.394 --> 00:07:10.136 And yeah, the focus was the birthmark.

00:07:10.156 --> 00:07:12.517 And that was the main

00:07:12.718 --> 00:07:14.059 highlight of the photo.

00:07:14.238 --> 00:07:15.800 And I was showing it in ways

00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:17.060 that was just really

00:07:17.081 --> 00:07:18.901 empowering for me specifically.

00:07:19.062 --> 00:07:21.043 But I was hoping that it was

00:07:21.103 --> 00:07:23.024 creating a new perspective

00:07:23.084 --> 00:07:24.365 on how we see flaws.

00:07:24.425 --> 00:07:27.668 So I was highlighting it with makeup.

00:07:27.747 --> 00:07:28.988 I think I actually started

00:07:29.028 --> 00:07:29.928 doing it with graphic

00:07:29.988 --> 00:07:31.649 design and overlaying it

00:07:31.709 --> 00:07:33.552 with graphics of space.

00:07:35.192 --> 00:07:37.653 just really fun, beautiful, just like,

00:07:38.213 --> 00:07:40.336 just elements like nature,

00:07:40.396 --> 00:07:42.216 like rain and fire and all

00:07:42.257 --> 00:07:42.976 this fun stuff.

00:07:43.516 --> 00:07:45.879 And it really shifted my,

00:07:46.499 --> 00:07:48.220 like it next level as far

00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:51.262 as acceptance and, and embracement.

00:07:51.281 --> 00:07:52.942 Like I wanted to even know

00:07:52.983 --> 00:07:55.024 that was like an option.

00:07:55.064 --> 00:07:57.045 I felt so silly in that moment being like,

00:07:57.125 --> 00:07:58.725 oh my God, like I could,

00:07:58.786 --> 00:07:59.867 I could highlight this.

00:07:59.927 --> 00:08:01.067 Like that was never an

00:08:01.148 --> 00:08:02.487 option presented to me.

00:08:02.548 --> 00:08:02.788 Never,

00:08:03.728 --> 00:08:05.891 you know, taught like, you know,

00:08:05.992 --> 00:08:07.735 when we go to doctor's office, it's,

00:08:07.954 --> 00:08:08.855 it's here.

00:08:08.875 --> 00:08:09.016 Well,

00:08:09.036 --> 00:08:10.499 thank God there's maybe some things

00:08:10.538 --> 00:08:11.699 that can help cover it up

00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:13.783 or to help get rid of it, to help,

00:08:13.822 --> 00:08:16.045 you know, give you somewhat of a, um,

00:08:18.081 --> 00:08:20.264 Comfortable life, a semi-comfortable life.

00:08:20.324 --> 00:08:21.824 It was never, well,

00:08:21.846 --> 00:08:23.146 why don't you try embracing it?

00:08:23.206 --> 00:08:25.189 Why don't you try putting glitter on it?

00:08:25.228 --> 00:08:26.651 Why don't you try doing some

00:08:26.670 --> 00:08:28.233 kind of like empowerment

00:08:29.274 --> 00:08:30.675 activity where you can

00:08:30.755 --> 00:08:32.136 actually see it as art or

00:08:32.238 --> 00:08:34.340 see it as something positive?

00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.600 just really cool and

00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:36.381 different you know

00:08:36.481 --> 00:08:39.245 different can be cool um so

00:08:39.284 --> 00:08:41.307 that was a huge huge moment

00:08:41.346 --> 00:08:42.869 in my life was like oh my

00:08:42.908 --> 00:08:43.889 god I didn't even know this

00:08:43.909 --> 00:08:44.750 was like a thing that I

00:08:44.769 --> 00:08:46.893 needed permission to do um

00:08:46.972 --> 00:08:51.456 I think I was twenty around

00:08:51.496 --> 00:08:52.879 twenty five or something like that okay

00:08:53.557 --> 00:08:55.979 I don't know.

00:08:56.099 --> 00:08:56.599 And so, yeah,

00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.339 that was like I that was just

00:08:58.418 --> 00:08:59.340 a whole new world.

00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:02.179 And I everything then was like,

00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:03.181 how do I highlight this?

00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:05.160 Like, oh, that would be such a cool idea.

00:09:05.260 --> 00:09:06.221 Oh, I love that color.

00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:07.942 What an inspiration for like, like,

00:09:08.922 --> 00:09:10.903 you know, fill this in with or.

00:09:11.623 --> 00:09:14.023 And I never, never, ever thought that way.

00:09:15.183 --> 00:09:15.683 So that.

00:09:16.183 --> 00:09:16.644 Yeah.

00:09:16.703 --> 00:09:18.385 Next level made it be like, man,

00:09:18.405 --> 00:09:19.546 this is like actually like

00:09:19.605 --> 00:09:20.807 kind of like my superpower

00:09:20.866 --> 00:09:23.249 because I have a superhero now.

00:09:23.408 --> 00:09:24.870 And with some of these looks,

00:09:24.929 --> 00:09:25.971 I kind of look like one.

00:09:27.371 --> 00:09:28.471 And so that's that.

00:09:28.491 --> 00:09:29.273 That's kind of where we're

00:09:29.293 --> 00:09:31.234 at now is like finding

00:09:31.293 --> 00:09:34.096 different levels of creativity,

00:09:34.255 --> 00:09:35.336 things that I can do with it,

00:09:36.157 --> 00:09:37.818 but also how I can see it

00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:40.659 and just much more fulfilling, impactful,

00:09:41.900 --> 00:09:43.081 beautiful ways that I that

00:09:43.201 --> 00:09:44.182 I didn't really get the

00:09:44.222 --> 00:09:45.884 chance to do so when I was younger.

00:09:46.676 --> 00:09:48.457 Yeah, I love your Instagram.

00:09:49.258 --> 00:09:50.820 So what was the response you

00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:51.980 got when you started

00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:55.344 posting on social media?

00:09:55.423 --> 00:09:56.625 Response was wonderful.

00:09:56.826 --> 00:09:58.427 People really, really loved it.

00:09:58.466 --> 00:09:58.988 I mean, of course,

00:09:59.008 --> 00:10:00.249 you're going to get your your

00:10:01.548 --> 00:10:03.389 offhand person who has a

00:10:03.450 --> 00:10:05.673 comment about how the best

00:10:05.753 --> 00:10:07.495 peach in the world is disgusting.

00:10:09.057 --> 00:10:09.596 But no,

00:10:09.857 --> 00:10:12.301 the response was incredibly supportive.

00:10:13.522 --> 00:10:16.806 A lot of inspiration, actually.

00:10:17.365 --> 00:10:19.288 I think that really was a domino effect.

00:10:19.328 --> 00:10:20.750 I think I started to see people

00:10:21.490 --> 00:10:22.652 you know, comment like, wow,

00:10:22.692 --> 00:10:24.432 I didn't know you could do this as well.

00:10:24.472 --> 00:10:25.693 I've never seen a birthmark

00:10:25.714 --> 00:10:26.815 like this before or I've

00:10:26.855 --> 00:10:28.456 never seen a birthmark in general.

00:10:28.895 --> 00:10:30.717 And then people with facial

00:10:30.758 --> 00:10:31.818 differences in the

00:10:31.859 --> 00:10:33.058 birthmark community kind of

00:10:33.078 --> 00:10:34.520 starting to do similar thing,

00:10:36.241 --> 00:10:38.182 which was really, really amazing to see.

00:10:38.283 --> 00:10:39.744 And that's still to this day

00:10:40.904 --> 00:10:41.745 very much still get

00:10:41.785 --> 00:10:42.986 comments or just messages

00:10:43.027 --> 00:10:44.168 from people that they've never,

00:10:44.227 --> 00:10:45.347 ever seen anybody else that

00:10:45.388 --> 00:10:48.029 looks like them, which is, you know, it's

00:10:49.211 --> 00:10:50.311 completely understandable

00:10:50.331 --> 00:10:50.890 with the lack of

00:10:50.931 --> 00:10:52.532 representation and awareness that we have,

00:10:52.552 --> 00:10:53.412 but at the same time,

00:10:53.432 --> 00:10:55.091 for how long that we've had social media,

00:10:55.131 --> 00:10:57.293 it's still sometimes quite a surprise.

00:10:58.572 --> 00:10:58.913 But yeah,

00:10:58.952 --> 00:11:00.153 just overall incredibly

00:11:00.232 --> 00:11:03.413 supportive and it inspires

00:11:03.453 --> 00:11:06.553 a lot of people to see

00:11:06.594 --> 00:11:08.434 whatever it is that they're dealing with,

00:11:08.495 --> 00:11:09.394 whether that's a physical

00:11:09.434 --> 00:11:11.514 difference or an internal or, you know,

00:11:11.634 --> 00:11:16.155 just very like, just a self...

00:11:17.594 --> 00:11:19.076 They're in their own self-love journey,

00:11:19.096 --> 00:11:19.879 wherever that is.

00:11:21.162 --> 00:11:21.722 It's just something they

00:11:21.763 --> 00:11:23.326 haven't seen before and they...

00:11:26.657 --> 00:11:28.357 it shows that people are very much wanting,

00:11:28.398 --> 00:11:31.219 they desire to see one

00:11:31.278 --> 00:11:32.379 different in general.

00:11:32.458 --> 00:11:34.980 I think everyone's very sick

00:11:35.041 --> 00:11:36.160 of just seeing the same

00:11:36.181 --> 00:11:37.402 thing over and over again,

00:11:37.422 --> 00:11:39.243 the same type of sexual appeal,

00:11:39.283 --> 00:11:41.264 the same type of main character energy.

00:11:41.283 --> 00:11:44.205 And we wanna see what our

00:11:44.264 --> 00:11:45.466 world actually looks like.

00:11:45.546 --> 00:11:46.846 And I think people are

00:11:47.647 --> 00:11:48.486 becoming more and more

00:11:48.527 --> 00:11:50.008 vocal about that desire.

00:11:50.854 --> 00:11:51.094 Yeah.

00:11:51.754 --> 00:11:53.957 And I feel like it is a journey.

00:11:54.038 --> 00:11:55.658 I feel like we're always on that journey.

00:11:56.880 --> 00:11:58.602 It doesn't just stop one day,

00:11:58.842 --> 00:12:00.465 like even as we get older.

00:12:01.245 --> 00:12:03.087 And I feel like there's so

00:12:03.148 --> 00:12:07.613 much more people advocating

00:12:08.052 --> 00:12:09.634 and speaking up.

00:12:10.652 --> 00:12:11.952 than when I was growing up.

00:12:12.293 --> 00:12:13.693 It just feels like people in

00:12:13.714 --> 00:12:14.815 their twenties and thirties

00:12:14.855 --> 00:12:16.635 are so much more out there

00:12:16.655 --> 00:12:17.756 than I ever was.

00:12:18.477 --> 00:12:18.898 So,

00:12:20.119 --> 00:12:21.539 and I think a lot of that has to do

00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.581 with the people who come

00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:25.442 before us or before who

00:12:25.602 --> 00:12:26.884 have sort of paved the way.

00:12:26.943 --> 00:12:28.304 But I feel like also with

00:12:28.345 --> 00:12:30.125 social media and all these things,

00:12:31.787 --> 00:12:33.028 it seems like it's easier

00:12:33.107 --> 00:12:34.668 to get the messages out there.

00:12:34.688 --> 00:12:35.950 And it makes me so happy to

00:12:36.029 --> 00:12:37.751 see you and some of the

00:12:37.812 --> 00:12:39.572 others doing that because,

00:12:40.472 --> 00:12:44.674 I think it's hopefully helping to, um,

00:12:44.934 --> 00:12:48.177 normalize facial differences in some way.

00:12:48.197 --> 00:12:48.817 Definitely.

00:12:49.076 --> 00:12:49.236 Yeah.

00:12:49.256 --> 00:12:49.456 I mean,

00:12:49.476 --> 00:12:51.258 I think even just seeing people

00:12:52.097 --> 00:12:54.158 just happy living their lives,

00:12:54.359 --> 00:12:55.779 even like if they don't have a difference,

00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.700 you know, they're just,

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:58.020 just woke up from bed,

00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.402 their hair's a mess.

00:12:59.422 --> 00:13:00.341 They got no makeup on,

00:13:00.381 --> 00:13:02.023 they're breaking out there, you know,

00:13:02.523 --> 00:13:03.844 whatever's hanging out and

00:13:03.884 --> 00:13:04.825 they're just living life

00:13:05.225 --> 00:13:06.686 and they're just living it beautifully.

00:13:06.745 --> 00:13:08.706 And I need to see that.

00:13:09.408 --> 00:13:12.610 I need to remind myself that

00:13:13.509 --> 00:13:14.850 perfection is messy and

00:13:14.890 --> 00:13:16.412 perfection is just existing.

00:13:17.832 --> 00:13:18.673 And seeing other people's

00:13:18.693 --> 00:13:20.375 self-confidence is very contagious.

00:13:20.394 --> 00:13:22.035 Absolutely.

00:13:23.692 --> 00:13:25.394 Representation in media and

00:13:25.434 --> 00:13:27.538 beauty is a huge focus of your work,

00:13:27.618 --> 00:13:27.999 I think.

00:13:28.499 --> 00:13:29.921 And what changes have you

00:13:29.961 --> 00:13:30.981 seen over the years and

00:13:31.022 --> 00:13:32.443 what progress do you think

00:13:32.484 --> 00:13:37.029 still needs to be made?

00:13:37.070 --> 00:13:37.931 Big question, I know.

00:13:37.990 --> 00:13:38.971 Yeah, good question.

00:13:39.091 --> 00:13:40.653 I mean, I...

00:13:45.811 --> 00:13:47.254 Represent yeah, I mean representation.

00:13:47.293 --> 00:13:48.736 We still have a lot of work

00:13:48.756 --> 00:13:51.041 to do like a lot of work to do.

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.322 I feel like in every

00:13:52.442 --> 00:13:54.086 department and every aspect

00:13:54.246 --> 00:13:56.892 of like business and creativity and just.

00:14:01.308 --> 00:14:02.649 I am seeing more brands,

00:14:02.710 --> 00:14:03.671 more makeup brands and

00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:05.371 skincare brands becoming

00:14:05.491 --> 00:14:09.335 more inclusive with how

00:14:09.414 --> 00:14:10.336 they're marketing and who

00:14:10.355 --> 00:14:11.336 they're marketing to.

00:14:13.578 --> 00:14:14.599 And I was actually lucky

00:14:14.619 --> 00:14:16.000 enough to be part of a

00:14:16.041 --> 00:14:16.900 makeup brand called It

00:14:16.941 --> 00:14:19.322 Cosmetics where that was a

00:14:19.363 --> 00:14:20.703 big push of their latest

00:14:20.724 --> 00:14:22.765 campaign for their CC cream was having...

00:14:23.666 --> 00:14:24.547 a little bit more of

00:14:24.846 --> 00:14:26.187 inclusivity in their models.

00:14:27.227 --> 00:14:28.609 And so you can actually see

00:14:28.629 --> 00:14:30.049 my face in Sephora and Ulta.

00:14:30.070 --> 00:14:32.951 I know, I love it.

00:14:33.312 --> 00:14:33.611 And, you know,

00:14:33.631 --> 00:14:35.013 like I haven't seen that before.

00:14:35.773 --> 00:14:36.894 And I think IT Cosmetics

00:14:36.974 --> 00:14:38.094 actually did something

00:14:38.313 --> 00:14:39.975 similar maybe a few years ago,

00:14:40.535 --> 00:14:42.716 maybe not as big of a scale, but like,

00:14:43.586 --> 00:14:44.589 I'm hearing more and more

00:14:44.609 --> 00:14:45.730 from makeup and skincare

00:14:45.750 --> 00:14:47.854 brands that this next push

00:14:47.933 --> 00:14:51.099 within beauty industry is

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.480 facial differences.

00:14:54.684 --> 00:14:58.327 I think within the media and film industry,

00:14:58.388 --> 00:15:00.068 disability is the next push.

00:15:01.090 --> 00:15:02.530 That's what I have been hearing from.

00:15:02.571 --> 00:15:04.373 I'm part of the SAG Disability Committee,

00:15:04.452 --> 00:15:06.033 and being as a producer,

00:15:06.274 --> 00:15:07.875 I do ask around a lot of these questions.

00:15:09.056 --> 00:15:10.157 But it's still so niche,

00:15:10.177 --> 00:15:11.918 and it's still so incredibly difficult.

00:15:12.999 --> 00:15:14.039 You really have to have a

00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:16.022 brand that really believes in that.

00:15:16.062 --> 00:15:18.423 You really have to have a producer that...

00:15:19.344 --> 00:15:21.184 you know has some type of

00:15:21.284 --> 00:15:22.565 personal experience even if

00:15:22.644 --> 00:15:23.384 it's just within an

00:15:23.445 --> 00:15:24.725 extension of somebody else

00:15:24.785 --> 00:15:29.408 like they're it's like the

00:15:29.427 --> 00:15:30.927 the door is opening for the

00:15:30.988 --> 00:15:33.168 conversation to be had so

00:15:33.208 --> 00:15:34.009 much more and I think the

00:15:34.048 --> 00:15:35.809 conversation has is being

00:15:35.850 --> 00:15:38.270 taken more seriously um

00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:41.364 But yeah, I think the work is just,

00:15:42.304 --> 00:15:43.606 I don't think it's any easier,

00:15:43.726 --> 00:15:44.447 to be honest.

00:15:45.269 --> 00:15:46.490 We have these doors open for

00:15:46.530 --> 00:15:47.451 these conversations,

00:15:47.471 --> 00:15:48.413 but then you see all of

00:15:48.453 --> 00:15:49.774 these DEI policies and

00:15:49.815 --> 00:15:51.477 initiatives that are rolling back.

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.440 You see that the disability

00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:57.361 community is very much one

00:15:57.402 --> 00:15:58.523 of the marginalized

00:15:58.562 --> 00:16:01.945 communities that is being attacked,

00:16:02.065 --> 00:16:02.725 essentially,

00:16:02.865 --> 00:16:04.005 as far as their rights and

00:16:04.025 --> 00:16:04.886 their benefits.

00:16:06.388 --> 00:16:07.509 We have discrimination

00:16:07.568 --> 00:16:08.808 policies in place for a

00:16:08.869 --> 00:16:10.370 very specific reason,

00:16:10.770 --> 00:16:11.910 and people with visible

00:16:11.951 --> 00:16:13.471 differences experience that

00:16:13.572 --> 00:16:14.533 every single day,

00:16:14.572 --> 00:16:15.653 and they do experience that

00:16:15.693 --> 00:16:17.315 in their workplace and our opportunities.

00:16:18.394 --> 00:16:20.577 The fight, I mean, if anything,

00:16:20.618 --> 00:16:22.320 I think is probably even stronger.

00:16:25.003 --> 00:16:26.825 So I think it's just,

00:16:27.605 --> 00:16:28.866 I don't really know all

00:16:28.907 --> 00:16:29.687 that it would take.

00:16:29.748 --> 00:16:31.791 I think it would take so incredibly much,

00:16:31.870 --> 00:16:33.471 but seeing more and more

00:16:33.552 --> 00:16:37.056 people advocate in their respected space.

00:16:38.431 --> 00:16:40.932 is, I think, the first best step.

00:16:41.734 --> 00:16:42.735 We're talking about it.

00:16:43.034 --> 00:16:46.277 We're sharing about the information,

00:16:47.498 --> 00:16:49.139 the experiences that we deal with,

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.780 the help that we need from the community.

00:16:50.841 --> 00:16:52.361 We're sharing about this on social media.

00:16:52.381 --> 00:16:53.263 People are becoming more

00:16:53.302 --> 00:16:55.063 aware of our struggles

00:16:56.725 --> 00:16:58.307 while also trying to

00:16:58.386 --> 00:16:59.947 advocate for those opportunities.

00:17:01.288 --> 00:17:03.090 there are those people that

00:17:03.350 --> 00:17:04.691 have those resources that

00:17:04.750 --> 00:17:05.912 have that funding and that

00:17:06.031 --> 00:17:07.333 have that passion and that

00:17:07.393 --> 00:17:08.933 intention to create those

00:17:08.973 --> 00:17:10.054 opportunities for people

00:17:10.074 --> 00:17:12.556 like us there's just you

00:17:12.576 --> 00:17:14.876 know not as many people as

00:17:14.916 --> 00:17:16.337 we would hope and now that like

00:17:16.909 --> 00:17:18.130 these challenges that they

00:17:18.250 --> 00:17:19.511 even have to now face when

00:17:19.531 --> 00:17:20.432 they're just trying to do

00:17:20.492 --> 00:17:23.816 something good um it's it's

00:17:24.016 --> 00:17:25.438 it's it's hard but you know

00:17:25.518 --> 00:17:26.719 we we just keep pushing and

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.980 we keep got this project

00:17:29.040 --> 00:17:29.961 we've got you know a slate

00:17:29.981 --> 00:17:31.083 of feature films that we're

00:17:31.123 --> 00:17:32.585 working on in TV series

00:17:32.605 --> 00:17:33.405 where the roles are

00:17:33.625 --> 00:17:36.228 incredibly inclusive and and

00:17:36.307 --> 00:17:38.269 fun um and I know people

00:17:38.289 --> 00:17:39.330 there are people out there

00:17:39.351 --> 00:17:41.011 that will fund it it's I'm

00:17:41.051 --> 00:17:42.113 not gonna knock on any

00:17:42.173 --> 00:17:43.874 studio doors though like I

00:17:43.933 --> 00:17:44.835 know where my avenue is

00:17:44.855 --> 00:17:45.675 gonna be it's gonna be

00:17:45.715 --> 00:17:46.997 completely private funding

00:17:47.037 --> 00:17:48.076 where someone who believes

00:17:48.096 --> 00:17:49.258 in that message who wants

00:17:49.278 --> 00:17:50.298 to see that message come

00:17:50.378 --> 00:17:51.960 out there and then once

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.321 studios see the success

00:17:53.342 --> 00:17:53.902 because everything's

00:17:53.942 --> 00:17:55.722 business once they see it's

00:17:55.782 --> 00:17:57.144 less of a risk assessment

00:17:57.224 --> 00:17:58.865 on their end then someone

00:17:58.905 --> 00:17:59.605 might you know you

00:18:00.406 --> 00:18:01.366 come on board and come

00:18:01.406 --> 00:18:02.488 behind and now we can make

00:18:02.528 --> 00:18:03.667 it more of a bigger message

00:18:03.708 --> 00:18:04.607 but it's getting to that

00:18:04.647 --> 00:18:05.688 point which is always the

00:18:05.788 --> 00:18:08.929 most difficult um but we're

00:18:08.949 --> 00:18:11.170 getting there yeah I think

00:18:11.230 --> 00:18:12.890 two points two thoughts I

00:18:12.930 --> 00:18:13.930 had while you were talking

00:18:13.970 --> 00:18:15.871 is one is that um it is

00:18:16.550 --> 00:18:17.790 definitely a little

00:18:18.510 --> 00:18:20.791 nerve-wracking or even scary the

00:18:21.913 --> 00:18:23.354 potential of the DEI

00:18:23.414 --> 00:18:24.775 rollback and what that's

00:18:24.815 --> 00:18:26.736 going to mean for people

00:18:26.776 --> 00:18:29.036 with disabilities and facial differences.

00:18:29.096 --> 00:18:30.856 And also,

00:18:31.096 --> 00:18:33.178 I think that the other thing I

00:18:33.198 --> 00:18:34.218 think a lot about is that

00:18:34.278 --> 00:18:36.778 we're not quite part of the

00:18:36.999 --> 00:18:39.220 bigger conversation on

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:41.400 disability and differences yet.

00:18:42.280 --> 00:18:43.500 But I feel like we're

00:18:44.278 --> 00:18:45.459 breaking for a little bit.

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.880 Like I think this, as you said,

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:48.099 there's still a lot of work

00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.642 to be done in this field.

00:18:50.721 --> 00:18:53.242 And I think also not a lot

00:18:53.262 --> 00:18:55.243 of people know about facial

00:18:55.263 --> 00:18:57.306 differences or clasps or

00:18:57.405 --> 00:18:58.605 craniofacial differences.

00:18:59.146 --> 00:19:00.086 And I think so,

00:19:01.647 --> 00:19:03.108 I think awareness and

00:19:03.648 --> 00:19:07.332 advocacy is so important in doing that.

00:19:07.372 --> 00:19:08.051 But I feel like it's

00:19:08.112 --> 00:19:09.413 happening much more than

00:19:09.593 --> 00:19:10.973 when I was growing up for sure.

00:19:12.021 --> 00:19:13.702 Definitely.

00:19:13.883 --> 00:19:16.244 Yeah, a hundred percent.

00:19:16.265 --> 00:19:17.006 To our audience,

00:19:17.066 --> 00:19:18.247 I hope you're enjoying this

00:19:18.307 --> 00:19:20.048 episode of My Face, My Story.

00:19:20.249 --> 00:19:21.249 Whether it's your first time

00:19:21.288 --> 00:19:22.410 joining us or you've been

00:19:22.430 --> 00:19:23.631 with us since the beginning,

00:19:24.211 --> 00:19:25.452 make sure you're subscribed

00:19:25.512 --> 00:19:26.634 to our YouTube and Apple

00:19:26.673 --> 00:19:28.454 podcast channels and sign

00:19:28.494 --> 00:19:29.776 up for our mailing list at

00:19:29.855 --> 00:19:33.798 myface.org slash my story.

00:19:33.838 --> 00:19:34.119 So

00:19:35.944 --> 00:19:38.230 How do you navigate the

00:19:38.270 --> 00:19:40.076 challenges of working in the fashion,

00:19:40.115 --> 00:19:41.700 film and beauty industries

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.684 while advocating for inclusivity?

00:19:45.892 --> 00:19:47.752 Um, you know, so I,

00:19:47.772 --> 00:19:50.494 I just signed with Zebedee or ZBD.

00:19:52.695 --> 00:19:55.178 I think it was the beginning of twenty,

00:19:55.377 --> 00:19:57.159 was it twenty, twenty four?

00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:58.200 Yeah, it was just, you know, so it's,

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.140 it's still pretty recent.

00:19:59.780 --> 00:20:01.422 Um, prior to that, you know,

00:20:01.461 --> 00:20:02.623 it was whenever,

00:20:02.722 --> 00:20:04.324 whatever gigs I could get, you know,

00:20:04.344 --> 00:20:04.923 on my own.

00:20:04.983 --> 00:20:06.984 And even now it's usually

00:20:07.025 --> 00:20:08.766 brands and companies that are, that are,

00:20:08.846 --> 00:20:10.426 you know, they go to a company like ZBD,

00:20:10.446 --> 00:20:10.667 which

00:20:11.748 --> 00:20:13.848 represents mainly different

00:20:13.888 --> 00:20:16.670 inclusive types of models

00:20:16.710 --> 00:20:18.211 like so they're obviously

00:20:18.270 --> 00:20:19.651 going for that type of look

00:20:19.671 --> 00:20:21.471 and that creative so it

00:20:21.491 --> 00:20:22.811 doesn't feel like you know

00:20:22.832 --> 00:20:24.432 there's a lot of work to

00:20:24.492 --> 00:20:25.814 push for advocacy when the

00:20:25.834 --> 00:20:26.814 brands already kind of come

00:20:27.074 --> 00:20:27.594 coming for you

00:20:29.674 --> 00:20:30.935 But when I would reach out

00:20:30.996 --> 00:20:32.498 to makeup companies,

00:20:33.698 --> 00:20:36.119 kind of cold email with sponsorships,

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:37.721 with social media sponsorships,

00:20:39.563 --> 00:20:40.544 going with companies where

00:20:40.564 --> 00:20:41.724 their messaging was already

00:20:41.785 --> 00:20:43.185 in lined with differences,

00:20:43.546 --> 00:20:44.606 but didn't have any models

00:20:44.646 --> 00:20:45.528 to represent that.

00:20:46.228 --> 00:20:47.568 And that would definitely be

00:20:47.588 --> 00:20:49.530 my pitch is to kind of be like, hey,

00:20:49.550 --> 00:20:50.030 if you're gonna be

00:20:50.070 --> 00:20:51.152 representing or say that

00:20:51.172 --> 00:20:53.233 you represent these types of people,

00:20:53.273 --> 00:20:54.134 then you really need to

00:20:54.174 --> 00:20:55.435 represent these types of people.

00:20:56.256 --> 00:20:58.519 um sometimes it was oh wow

00:20:58.538 --> 00:20:59.339 you're absolutely right we

00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.181 would love to actually do a

00:21:00.221 --> 00:21:01.402 sponsorship with you and

00:21:01.541 --> 00:21:03.223 I'm the first you know

00:21:03.585 --> 00:21:05.307 facially different type of

00:21:05.346 --> 00:21:06.268 model that they've done any

00:21:06.307 --> 00:21:08.049 type of work with others

00:21:08.190 --> 00:21:09.751 where that's just not where

00:21:10.792 --> 00:21:12.714 their marketing and focus

00:21:12.734 --> 00:21:14.757 is is quite at um

00:21:15.805 --> 00:21:19.146 So it's a handful of things.

00:21:20.107 --> 00:21:21.347 But the brands that are

00:21:21.428 --> 00:21:22.989 somewhat interested, like at Cosmetics,

00:21:23.009 --> 00:21:24.150 when they come to us

00:21:24.210 --> 00:21:26.451 looking for inclusive models, oh,

00:21:26.832 --> 00:21:27.551 I'm right there.

00:21:27.692 --> 00:21:28.952 Go into the social media

00:21:29.393 --> 00:21:32.154 person or any type of

00:21:32.535 --> 00:21:34.115 creative producer where I'm like,

00:21:34.135 --> 00:21:35.076 how do we make this bigger?

00:21:35.517 --> 00:21:37.298 How do we have a bigger

00:21:37.518 --> 00:21:39.459 lasting relationship?

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.599 And I'm not just talking me.

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.820 I'm not just talking birthmarks.

00:21:41.881 --> 00:21:43.481 I'm talking X, Y, and Z.

00:21:44.321 --> 00:21:45.482 Um, how do we,

00:21:45.643 --> 00:21:47.144 how do we do a campaign together?

00:21:47.203 --> 00:21:48.884 Like it's, it's how to, it's,

00:21:48.964 --> 00:21:49.865 I'm always trying to look

00:21:49.905 --> 00:21:50.885 for how do we make this a

00:21:50.925 --> 00:21:52.287 more lasting relationship?

00:21:52.346 --> 00:21:53.387 It's not just off.

00:21:53.448 --> 00:21:54.769 I do think I have done

00:21:54.788 --> 00:21:56.509 things for free just to get

00:21:56.569 --> 00:21:57.570 my foot in the door with

00:21:57.590 --> 00:21:58.971 the brand to just show, Hey,

00:22:00.011 --> 00:22:01.294 This is how well it can go.

00:22:01.374 --> 00:22:02.434 This is how well it can do.

00:22:03.756 --> 00:22:07.701 Here's just a little taste

00:22:07.901 --> 00:22:10.222 of opening a door into

00:22:11.144 --> 00:22:12.945 having a market of specifically,

00:22:13.366 --> 00:22:15.829 eight hundred new million customers.

00:22:16.329 --> 00:22:17.211 There's over eight hundred

00:22:17.230 --> 00:22:18.692 million people with birthmarks.

00:22:19.292 --> 00:22:20.212 over twenty four million

00:22:20.252 --> 00:22:21.012 people in the world with

00:22:21.053 --> 00:22:22.273 propion stains that's a

00:22:22.314 --> 00:22:23.894 really big open market that

00:22:23.953 --> 00:22:25.054 no one's really I have no

00:22:25.134 --> 00:22:28.015 idea birthmarks you know

00:22:28.035 --> 00:22:29.134 I'm not even talking about

00:22:29.836 --> 00:22:30.935 all craniofacial

00:22:31.316 --> 00:22:34.076 differences and I think

00:22:34.176 --> 00:22:35.676 it's kind of just I try to

00:22:35.717 --> 00:22:37.037 present it more in that way

00:22:37.116 --> 00:22:37.777 just in more on their

00:22:37.817 --> 00:22:38.958 language of like this is

00:22:39.038 --> 00:22:40.278 here's a business model and

00:22:40.317 --> 00:22:41.738 here's some numbers that

00:22:41.758 --> 00:22:43.679 you're missing out on and

00:22:44.818 --> 00:22:46.640 It's also creating projects

00:22:47.520 --> 00:22:50.282 and trying to get into new avenues.

00:22:51.103 --> 00:22:52.744 I've created a pitch for

00:22:52.765 --> 00:22:54.266 Mattel for Birthmark Barbie

00:22:54.326 --> 00:22:55.026 and trying to get

00:22:55.066 --> 00:22:56.527 representation and advocacy

00:22:56.547 --> 00:22:58.989 within that space,

00:23:00.250 --> 00:23:01.349 trying to get representation,

00:23:01.411 --> 00:23:02.310 advocacy in my own space

00:23:02.351 --> 00:23:03.471 that I work in within, you know,

00:23:03.731 --> 00:23:05.272 films and producing and

00:23:05.313 --> 00:23:06.593 creating a slate of films

00:23:06.692 --> 00:23:08.554 and finally have a roster

00:23:08.713 --> 00:23:09.973 of individuals where I can

00:23:10.074 --> 00:23:11.094 actually take this to and

00:23:11.134 --> 00:23:11.835 something could actually

00:23:11.855 --> 00:23:14.855 happen successfully with fingers crossed.

00:23:15.855 --> 00:23:16.836 So there's there's a lot of

00:23:16.895 --> 00:23:19.217 projects and avenues where in books,

00:23:19.297 --> 00:23:19.557 you know,

00:23:19.596 --> 00:23:21.857 different spaces that birthmark emojis,

00:23:21.938 --> 00:23:22.097 you know,

00:23:22.137 --> 00:23:23.038 facially different birthmark

00:23:23.057 --> 00:23:25.019 emojis where we submitted,

00:23:25.219 --> 00:23:25.979 they all got denied.

00:23:26.838 --> 00:23:27.500 But so we're working.

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:27.700 Yeah.

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.861 That would be amazing to have emojis.

00:23:30.961 --> 00:23:32.481 Yeah, right.

00:23:33.022 --> 00:23:33.323 Yeah.

00:23:33.343 --> 00:23:35.805 So it's, it's seeing kind of, you know,

00:23:36.005 --> 00:23:37.945 where it lacks, which is everywhere,

00:23:38.066 --> 00:23:39.186 and just seeing where I can

00:23:39.227 --> 00:23:41.488 personally tap into where I

00:23:41.509 --> 00:23:42.409 have expertise.

00:23:43.109 --> 00:23:44.369 But that that also extends

00:23:44.390 --> 00:23:46.011 to medical and physical.

00:23:46.872 --> 00:23:48.073 you know actual like

00:23:48.173 --> 00:23:49.334 policies and just

00:23:49.453 --> 00:23:50.894 discrimination policies and

00:23:51.835 --> 00:23:53.855 going to the the medical

00:23:53.875 --> 00:23:54.836 boards and having a bit of

00:23:54.856 --> 00:23:56.798 a refreshed actual medical

00:23:56.857 --> 00:23:58.219 model and one how we

00:23:58.298 --> 00:23:59.920 educate people about facial

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.880 differences or just you

00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.961 know really differences in

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.662 general but facial

00:24:03.682 --> 00:24:04.962 differences is a is a

00:24:05.002 --> 00:24:05.982 really big thing and I

00:24:06.083 --> 00:24:08.124 actually talked to um

00:24:09.265 --> 00:24:10.425 I was doing this commercial

00:24:10.486 --> 00:24:12.267 for figs it's a high-end

00:24:12.406 --> 00:24:14.067 scrub company and so we had

00:24:14.127 --> 00:24:15.709 it was twelve plastic

00:24:15.749 --> 00:24:17.028 surgeons and doctors and

00:24:17.068 --> 00:24:18.609 nurses and all in all these

00:24:18.630 --> 00:24:19.371 different fields and there

00:24:19.391 --> 00:24:20.290 was a few dermatologists

00:24:20.310 --> 00:24:22.031 there and I asked them just

00:24:22.071 --> 00:24:22.833 like hey I'm just so

00:24:22.873 --> 00:24:24.713 curious so like currently

00:24:24.753 --> 00:24:25.513 erwin when you were in

00:24:25.594 --> 00:24:28.355 school like what was the

00:24:28.375 --> 00:24:29.296 the educate the medical

00:24:29.336 --> 00:24:30.797 education that you got off

00:24:30.876 --> 00:24:31.998 of birthmark she obviously

00:24:32.018 --> 00:24:32.837 knew what her birthmark was

00:24:32.857 --> 00:24:33.898 because she's dermatologist

00:24:34.278 --> 00:24:35.880 but she was like you will laugh and

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:38.461 We have one thirty minute

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:40.760 lecture to cover all three

00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:44.021 thousand plus skin conditions.

00:24:46.461 --> 00:24:47.002 And that's it.

00:24:47.502 --> 00:24:47.603 Yeah,

00:24:47.623 --> 00:24:50.242 I guess I keep saying we need to do a

00:24:50.282 --> 00:24:52.344 better job of educating the

00:24:52.403 --> 00:24:53.723 medical community and

00:24:54.223 --> 00:24:55.865 getting in front of them,

00:24:55.884 --> 00:24:57.125 because I remember years ago,

00:24:58.785 --> 00:25:00.226 three or four of us from

00:25:00.266 --> 00:25:01.185 the facial difference

00:25:01.205 --> 00:25:02.726 community actually went

00:25:02.826 --> 00:25:05.067 into a medical school and presented.

00:25:05.750 --> 00:25:07.852 And they said they don't

00:25:07.912 --> 00:25:09.053 have that opportunity to

00:25:09.093 --> 00:25:11.933 hear from people themselves

00:25:11.953 --> 00:25:12.534 because they're just

00:25:12.734 --> 00:25:14.174 reading it in a textbook.

00:25:14.756 --> 00:25:16.556 And that experience just was

00:25:16.655 --> 00:25:17.757 life changing for them.

00:25:17.777 --> 00:25:19.718 And I just feel like every time I do it,

00:25:19.778 --> 00:25:20.018 I'm like,

00:25:20.057 --> 00:25:21.159 we need to do more of this

00:25:21.199 --> 00:25:24.740 because I think it's so important,

00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.701 especially getting them

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:27.402 when they're just starting out.

00:25:28.343 --> 00:25:29.923 So even just to know what

00:25:29.943 --> 00:25:31.585 the proper terminology is

00:25:31.904 --> 00:25:34.067 or what words to use, what not to use,

00:25:34.688 --> 00:25:35.788 and thinking about that

00:25:35.848 --> 00:25:37.250 person as a human being

00:25:38.391 --> 00:25:40.932 beyond just the textbook person.

00:25:41.252 --> 00:25:43.914 And so I think that I would

00:25:43.976 --> 00:25:46.217 love to do more in the medical community.

00:25:46.738 --> 00:25:46.958 Yeah.

00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:52.182 So what advice would you

00:25:52.222 --> 00:25:53.624 give to someone struggling

00:25:53.644 --> 00:25:55.144 with self acceptance due to

00:25:55.224 --> 00:25:56.165 their visible difference?

00:25:56.205 --> 00:25:57.968 And maybe what would you say

00:25:58.008 --> 00:26:00.730 if they wanted to do what

00:26:00.750 --> 00:26:03.333 you're doing and get out

00:26:03.353 --> 00:26:04.994 there and do acting or

00:26:05.174 --> 00:26:07.136 social media in a big way?

00:26:07.176 --> 00:26:08.377 Like what would you say to them?

00:26:10.266 --> 00:26:15.388 um so much um I think you

00:26:15.409 --> 00:26:16.308 know one of the biggest

00:26:16.328 --> 00:26:17.609 things that took the

00:26:17.650 --> 00:26:18.849 longest for me and it

00:26:18.910 --> 00:26:20.310 seemed the most simplest

00:26:20.351 --> 00:26:20.951 and one of the most

00:26:21.010 --> 00:26:22.432 powerful was just don't

00:26:22.471 --> 00:26:23.913 wait to ask for permission

00:26:23.972 --> 00:26:24.813 no one's going to give it

00:26:24.833 --> 00:26:26.653 to you um you will wait

00:26:26.673 --> 00:26:28.734 your entire life for it um

00:26:31.258 --> 00:26:32.439 start doing the things that

00:26:32.499 --> 00:26:33.479 interest you now.

00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:37.080 Start acting like the person

00:26:37.141 --> 00:26:38.820 who you know that you

00:26:38.961 --> 00:26:40.402 envision yourself to be.

00:26:40.461 --> 00:26:41.261 There's this,

00:26:41.301 --> 00:26:42.782 they call it the Batman effect.

00:26:43.303 --> 00:26:44.604 And I love this.

00:26:44.884 --> 00:26:46.403 And I did this growing up,

00:26:46.785 --> 00:26:47.825 not even knowing this is

00:26:47.865 --> 00:26:48.664 what I was doing.

00:26:48.765 --> 00:26:52.307 But you embody the character

00:26:53.047 --> 00:26:54.428 that you are either

00:26:54.488 --> 00:26:55.968 envisioning or that you

00:26:56.028 --> 00:26:57.828 deep down know that that's who you are.

00:26:58.108 --> 00:26:59.529 You pretend to be

00:27:00.509 --> 00:27:03.491 a character that you are too

00:27:03.531 --> 00:27:05.153 fearful to already kind of

00:27:05.913 --> 00:27:06.815 actually claim.

00:27:06.875 --> 00:27:08.016 So you pretend it.

00:27:08.817 --> 00:27:10.637 And when you pretend to be

00:27:10.678 --> 00:27:12.799 this confident person going

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.740 into the grocery store,

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.281 I'm not going to let anybody bother me.

00:27:16.162 --> 00:27:18.203 I'm this main character from

00:27:18.344 --> 00:27:21.046 this movie and that I really love.

00:27:22.646 --> 00:27:24.108 And I'm going to go and this

00:27:24.148 --> 00:27:25.670 is how I'm going to go do my groceries.

00:27:26.916 --> 00:27:28.959 It works a hundred percent of the time.

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.401 Sometimes you get out of it

00:27:32.082 --> 00:27:33.462 because it kind of will feel silly,

00:27:34.063 --> 00:27:35.744 but you practice it a little bit.

00:27:35.805 --> 00:27:36.625 And before you know it,

00:27:36.645 --> 00:27:38.027 you start becoming that,

00:27:38.186 --> 00:27:39.208 you start embodying those

00:27:39.268 --> 00:27:40.608 actual characteristics and

00:27:40.628 --> 00:27:41.369 those behaviors.

00:27:42.871 --> 00:27:43.711 To an extent.

00:27:43.911 --> 00:27:45.912 But if that's your goal is confidence,

00:27:45.991 --> 00:27:47.593 you will start to embody that.

00:27:47.673 --> 00:27:49.992 So you totally fake it till you make it.

00:27:50.212 --> 00:27:51.513 I think it is one of the

00:27:51.594 --> 00:27:52.874 best psychological tricks

00:27:52.913 --> 00:27:53.733 that one can do.

00:27:54.115 --> 00:27:55.734 I still do it myself to this day.

00:27:56.095 --> 00:27:57.435 I'm not feeling in a great mood.

00:27:57.855 --> 00:27:58.875 I do the Batman effect.

00:27:58.895 --> 00:27:59.635 I love that.

00:27:59.736 --> 00:28:02.997 I love that concept.

00:28:03.057 --> 00:28:03.436 I'm excited.

00:28:03.537 --> 00:28:03.958 Yeah, I know.

00:28:03.978 --> 00:28:04.718 Because it'll...

00:28:06.286 --> 00:28:07.487 Just like an actor, you know,

00:28:07.507 --> 00:28:08.488 the show must go on.

00:28:08.807 --> 00:28:09.929 If the stage rolls up,

00:28:09.969 --> 00:28:11.230 you gotta go on stage.

00:28:11.250 --> 00:28:12.311 You gotta go and pretend to

00:28:12.332 --> 00:28:13.132 be that character.

00:28:13.172 --> 00:28:14.173 So I think it can be really

00:28:14.212 --> 00:28:15.835 great in moments where you

00:28:15.855 --> 00:28:17.536 need to turn it on immediately like that.

00:28:18.037 --> 00:28:20.479 It's great for a gradual, you know,

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:23.441 results to get to from point

00:28:23.461 --> 00:28:26.462 A to point B. And it really helps,

00:28:26.583 --> 00:28:26.883 I think,

00:28:26.903 --> 00:28:28.584 kind of take away that fear and

00:28:28.604 --> 00:28:29.585 that seriousness,

00:28:29.605 --> 00:28:30.484 because you're just playing,

00:28:30.644 --> 00:28:32.425 you're just in,

00:28:32.445 --> 00:28:33.807 you're pretending to be

00:28:34.407 --> 00:28:36.028 kind of someone else that

00:28:36.048 --> 00:28:38.130 you're able to then do this thing with.

00:28:38.750 --> 00:28:40.010 which can really be helpful

00:28:40.050 --> 00:28:42.592 to then get you to maybe

00:28:43.271 --> 00:28:44.451 outline your difference for

00:28:44.491 --> 00:28:45.232 the first time.

00:28:45.333 --> 00:28:47.532 It might help you go and

00:28:47.573 --> 00:28:49.114 post the photo for the very

00:28:49.173 --> 00:28:50.493 first time to talk about it

00:28:50.513 --> 00:28:51.214 with somebody.

00:28:52.335 --> 00:28:54.476 If you want to be some type

00:28:54.556 --> 00:28:56.936 of – any type of work

00:28:56.957 --> 00:28:58.196 that's going to make you

00:28:58.938 --> 00:29:00.597 stand out in your

00:29:00.637 --> 00:29:04.750 authenticity and not hide –

00:29:03.512 --> 00:29:04.252 I think that's a really,

00:29:04.272 --> 00:29:06.454 really great way to do that.

00:29:06.914 --> 00:29:08.155 And the only other thing

00:29:08.175 --> 00:29:09.676 that I would give advice on

00:29:09.737 --> 00:29:11.057 is that no matter what you do,

00:29:11.096 --> 00:29:11.877 but especially if you're

00:29:11.897 --> 00:29:12.998 going to get into a space

00:29:13.038 --> 00:29:13.638 where you're going to be

00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:15.579 showing yourself to others

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:18.000 and to the public and want to inspire,

00:29:19.442 --> 00:29:22.644 have you be your only audience.

00:29:22.943 --> 00:29:25.884 and post and talk about and

00:29:25.924 --> 00:29:28.506 do the things that you

00:29:29.086 --> 00:29:31.906 right now would like, would comment on,

00:29:31.946 --> 00:29:33.326 would say, would go, yes,

00:29:33.366 --> 00:29:34.247 I absolutely love this.

00:29:34.287 --> 00:29:35.147 I would watch this.

00:29:35.468 --> 00:29:36.688 Or your younger self would

00:29:36.728 --> 00:29:38.528 feel incredibly inspired,

00:29:38.788 --> 00:29:41.529 would love to see that, would feel X, Y,

00:29:41.549 --> 00:29:43.970 and Z with you doing

00:29:44.109 --> 00:29:45.651 whatever it is that you're doing.

00:29:46.310 --> 00:29:47.571 That takes out all the noise

00:29:47.672 --> 00:29:49.011 of worrying about anybody else.

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.080 anybody else's opinions,

00:29:51.121 --> 00:29:52.801 whether they're known or stranger,

00:29:53.481 --> 00:29:54.823 any doubt that you're going to have.

00:29:54.962 --> 00:29:55.042 Oh,

00:29:55.063 --> 00:29:56.002 I wonder if anybody's going to like this,

00:29:56.022 --> 00:29:56.903 if they're going to find it funny.

00:29:56.963 --> 00:29:58.104 Oh, it's probably really, really stupid.

00:29:58.124 --> 00:30:00.085 Who cares if you get,

00:30:00.224 --> 00:30:01.286 and if maybe your younger

00:30:01.365 --> 00:30:02.326 self would have loved it

00:30:02.365 --> 00:30:03.247 and felt inspired,

00:30:03.967 --> 00:30:05.448 post all the stupid stuff,

00:30:05.647 --> 00:30:06.888 say all the stupid things,

00:30:06.929 --> 00:30:08.449 because if your audience approves,

00:30:08.469 --> 00:30:09.890 which is you at the end of the day,

00:30:10.450 --> 00:30:10.931 you're solid.

00:30:10.951 --> 00:30:13.612 What great advice.

00:30:13.632 --> 00:30:14.372 I have to take this advice.

00:30:14.392 --> 00:30:17.193 I don't know myself.

00:30:17.253 --> 00:30:17.614 Yeah.

00:30:18.455 --> 00:30:19.576 It's a daily practice.

00:30:19.596 --> 00:30:19.676 Yeah.

00:30:19.696 --> 00:30:19.777 Yeah.

00:30:20.196 --> 00:30:20.876 Yeah.

00:30:20.998 --> 00:30:22.478 I love that.

00:30:22.498 --> 00:30:23.318 So what has been one of the

00:30:23.358 --> 00:30:24.259 most meaningful and

00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.519 memorable moments in your

00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:27.942 advocacy journey?

00:30:28.061 --> 00:30:28.382 Oh man,

00:30:28.402 --> 00:30:32.243 there's been a lot from moms

00:30:32.284 --> 00:30:33.924 messaging me about their

00:30:34.045 --> 00:30:35.826 daughter and then their

00:30:36.406 --> 00:30:38.067 daughters did second grade,

00:30:38.107 --> 00:30:39.368 their first day for second grade.

00:30:39.808 --> 00:30:41.529 And they ended up, I got this fly.

00:30:41.990 --> 00:30:43.050 It's like a guest star here.

00:30:44.114 --> 00:30:45.215 They'll send me a photo of

00:30:45.276 --> 00:30:46.196 like their birthmarks all

00:30:46.217 --> 00:30:47.258 highlighted for the first

00:30:47.298 --> 00:30:48.839 time ever that they've done

00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:49.901 that out in public.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.801 And now they're like the

00:30:50.842 --> 00:30:52.063 most popular kid in their

00:30:52.083 --> 00:30:55.626 grade in school to see my

00:30:55.688 --> 00:30:57.630 face in Sephora and Ulta.

00:30:57.750 --> 00:30:58.009 I mean,

00:30:58.190 --> 00:31:00.853 I like I never actually would have

00:31:00.893 --> 00:31:02.055 thought what would have

00:31:02.095 --> 00:31:04.257 happened and be a possibility so that.

00:31:05.253 --> 00:31:06.494 was a huge,

00:31:06.535 --> 00:31:08.616 huge accomplishment and a

00:31:08.656 --> 00:31:10.117 moment that I'll definitely never forget.

00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:13.339 But yeah, there's, there's, it's,

00:31:14.520 --> 00:31:15.560 I think another one too

00:31:15.580 --> 00:31:16.682 that I also just can't,

00:31:16.761 --> 00:31:17.702 I can't get over is just

00:31:17.803 --> 00:31:18.544 meeting other people,

00:31:19.104 --> 00:31:19.703 whether they're in the

00:31:19.723 --> 00:31:21.625 birthmark community or like, you know,

00:31:21.826 --> 00:31:22.727 with my face and the

00:31:22.767 --> 00:31:23.747 craniofacial community,

00:31:23.787 --> 00:31:25.367 which I guess birthmarks and, you know,

00:31:25.387 --> 00:31:26.809 especially on the face, it's kind of,

00:31:26.849 --> 00:31:28.990 they, they fall within that same category,

00:31:29.030 --> 00:31:29.611 but just, yeah,

00:31:29.652 --> 00:31:32.594 meeting other people like us, like it's,

00:31:32.733 --> 00:31:32.933 it's,

00:31:33.653 --> 00:31:35.054 that never gets old.

00:31:35.134 --> 00:31:40.519 That has been one of the most impactful,

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:45.083 inspirational, most powerful, like family,

00:31:45.183 --> 00:31:48.807 like just those moments mean so, so, so,

00:31:48.846 --> 00:31:49.366 so much.

00:31:49.667 --> 00:31:51.910 Um, so it's, it's, yeah, it's,

00:31:52.009 --> 00:31:53.250 it's been a journey of,

00:31:53.590 --> 00:31:55.833 of all of it being pretty amazing.

00:31:55.873 --> 00:31:56.394 Yeah.

00:31:56.513 --> 00:31:56.673 Yeah.

00:31:57.694 --> 00:31:58.516 I always say,

00:31:58.635 --> 00:32:00.076 and I think it's so true here,

00:32:00.196 --> 00:32:01.176 that there's power in the

00:32:01.196 --> 00:32:02.178 shared story and knowing

00:32:02.198 --> 00:32:03.518 you're not alone and the

00:32:03.557 --> 00:32:04.919 connections you make when

00:32:05.078 --> 00:32:07.519 you share your journey and someone says,

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.721 oh, I totally get it.

00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.902 I can understand because

00:32:10.321 --> 00:32:11.241 they're on that same

00:32:11.281 --> 00:32:13.123 journey and it's just so powerful.

00:32:13.624 --> 00:32:16.125 And so that connection that

00:32:16.525 --> 00:32:18.066 other people may not understand,

00:32:18.465 --> 00:32:20.166 they haven't grown up with

00:32:20.186 --> 00:32:21.968 that or experienced it.

00:32:22.810 --> 00:32:23.790 Right.

00:32:23.951 --> 00:32:25.112 So, Paige,

00:32:25.152 --> 00:32:27.551 you are the host this year of My

00:32:27.571 --> 00:32:30.073 Faith Celebrates Gala on June fifth.

00:32:30.292 --> 00:32:32.212 So exciting in New York City.

00:32:33.273 --> 00:32:34.773 And so what does that mean

00:32:34.794 --> 00:32:36.314 to you to do that?

00:32:37.013 --> 00:32:43.316 Oh, man, that means like more.

00:32:43.395 --> 00:32:45.195 I mean, yeah, it really means a lot.

00:32:45.296 --> 00:32:47.317 I'm very, very honored to be able to

00:32:48.751 --> 00:32:50.674 just even speak in a space

00:32:50.714 --> 00:32:51.797 like that with the

00:32:51.836 --> 00:32:53.419 individuals that are gonna be there.

00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:53.799 I mean,

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:55.201 there's some powerhouses that are

00:32:55.221 --> 00:32:55.923 gonna be there,

00:32:57.105 --> 00:32:58.287 people that I look up to

00:32:58.307 --> 00:32:59.588 that I'm inspired by.

00:33:00.691 --> 00:33:02.073 So to even kind of like,

00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:05.280 announce anything and host anything.

00:33:05.661 --> 00:33:06.521 It feels really,

00:33:06.561 --> 00:33:07.842 really fun and really incredible.

00:33:09.163 --> 00:33:12.023 I'm ecstatic to just see

00:33:12.064 --> 00:33:13.184 people that I've already met there,

00:33:13.545 --> 00:33:14.846 meet new people that I haven't met there.

00:33:14.865 --> 00:33:15.586 Because again,

00:33:15.665 --> 00:33:16.906 meeting communities like this,

00:33:17.366 --> 00:33:19.067 there's nothing else like it.

00:33:19.087 --> 00:33:20.528 You don't walk into a room

00:33:21.534 --> 00:33:23.795 feeling like this in any other space.

00:33:24.115 --> 00:33:27.017 It's where you actually feel

00:33:27.096 --> 00:33:27.916 seen and heard and

00:33:27.957 --> 00:33:29.077 understood and you know

00:33:29.097 --> 00:33:30.538 that people are looking at

00:33:30.577 --> 00:33:32.919 you in such a different way.

00:33:36.201 --> 00:33:37.642 That's a feeling that I've

00:33:37.682 --> 00:33:40.282 craved for so long growing

00:33:40.383 --> 00:33:41.222 up because I never,

00:33:41.282 --> 00:33:42.923 never got that just until a

00:33:42.963 --> 00:33:43.664 few years ago.

00:33:44.005 --> 00:33:44.105 Yeah.

00:33:45.586 --> 00:33:47.067 So being in that space alone

00:33:47.167 --> 00:33:48.789 is just probably what I'm

00:33:48.829 --> 00:33:49.911 most excited about.

00:33:49.991 --> 00:33:51.693 But to just, yeah,

00:33:51.713 --> 00:33:53.055 to kind of just soak up the

00:33:53.095 --> 00:33:55.097 inspiration from everybody

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:58.622 is what I think is going to mean so,

00:33:58.682 --> 00:33:59.222 so much to me.

00:33:59.242 --> 00:34:02.165 Yeah, it's one of my favorite evenings,

00:34:02.246 --> 00:34:02.846 I can say that.

00:34:03.334 --> 00:34:04.575 And we are giving the

00:34:04.654 --> 00:34:06.836 Courage Award to Adam Pearson,

00:34:07.355 --> 00:34:09.117 who starred in A Different Man.

00:34:09.177 --> 00:34:11.297 So that's also very exciting.

00:34:11.898 --> 00:34:13.039 Very, very exciting.

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.739 I'm a huge fan of Adam's,

00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:16.721 so I'm so excited to meet

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:18.581 him after his autograph, the whole thing.

00:34:18.762 --> 00:34:19.521 I know, right?

00:34:19.922 --> 00:34:20.561 Yeah.

00:34:20.862 --> 00:34:22.463 If you'll have time for me, you know.

00:34:23.643 --> 00:34:24.184 Exactly.

00:34:24.985 --> 00:34:25.065 So...

00:34:28.081 --> 00:34:29.541 How can people support

00:34:29.623 --> 00:34:31.164 greater representation of

00:34:31.204 --> 00:34:32.664 facial differences in media

00:34:32.684 --> 00:34:35.648 and everyday life?

00:34:35.728 --> 00:34:36.027 Yeah,

00:34:36.068 --> 00:34:39.331 support your influencers and your

00:34:39.371 --> 00:34:40.833 advocates on social media

00:34:40.873 --> 00:34:41.893 that are doing this,

00:34:41.954 --> 00:34:44.135 that are speaking about this.

00:34:44.695 --> 00:34:46.077 Having a platform,

00:34:47.338 --> 00:34:50.382 having an audience for us is huge.

00:34:50.702 --> 00:34:52.963 It's because brands still look at that for

00:34:54.364 --> 00:34:55.824 opportunities and and for

00:34:55.846 --> 00:34:56.746 collaboration and for

00:34:56.786 --> 00:34:58.545 sponsorship producers they

00:34:58.585 --> 00:34:59.365 still look at that when

00:34:59.385 --> 00:35:00.507 they want to fund a project

00:35:00.547 --> 00:35:01.367 okay well who's in it how

00:35:01.387 --> 00:35:02.306 many following do they have

00:35:02.567 --> 00:35:04.708 it seems silly but and not

00:35:04.827 --> 00:35:05.947 all people work that way

00:35:06.027 --> 00:35:07.628 but a lot of people still

00:35:07.849 --> 00:35:09.369 do okay well what what kind

00:35:09.389 --> 00:35:10.750 of audience do you have if

00:35:10.769 --> 00:35:11.869 you have a voice well how

00:35:11.909 --> 00:35:12.909 many people are actually

00:35:12.989 --> 00:35:13.730 following and wanting to

00:35:13.769 --> 00:35:16.070 hear what you have to say so follow them

00:35:16.615 --> 00:35:18.237 like and comment their posts,

00:35:18.257 --> 00:35:19.117 share their posts,

00:35:19.177 --> 00:35:21.298 help them create a community,

00:35:21.338 --> 00:35:23.280 help them create a support,

00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:24.641 because that helps open up

00:35:24.721 --> 00:35:26.342 so many doors for us to

00:35:26.382 --> 00:35:27.842 have access to be able to

00:35:27.882 --> 00:35:29.202 speak in other places so

00:35:29.242 --> 00:35:32.244 that our faces and bodies can be seen in,

00:35:32.485 --> 00:35:33.204 you know,

00:35:33.244 --> 00:35:34.505 the clothes that we wear and the

00:35:34.525 --> 00:35:35.427 movies that we watch,

00:35:35.467 --> 00:35:36.206 the books that we read.

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.659 Yeah, I would say that the most.

00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.400 I mean, of course,

00:35:41.641 --> 00:35:43.682 foundations need donations

00:35:43.983 --> 00:35:45.643 to keep with the initiatives.

00:35:45.764 --> 00:35:46.905 If people ever feel like

00:35:46.925 --> 00:35:48.206 they've got money to spend,

00:35:49.166 --> 00:35:51.489 we will absolutely, you know,

00:35:51.748 --> 00:35:53.331 it goes to amazing causes.

00:35:53.371 --> 00:35:54.891 It goes to people who really need it.

00:35:54.931 --> 00:35:55.833 And it's a community that

00:35:55.873 --> 00:35:57.233 we're trying to create

00:35:57.273 --> 00:35:58.275 representation for.

00:35:59.896 --> 00:36:00.635 But I, you know,

00:36:00.717 --> 00:36:01.456 I think money is always a

00:36:01.916 --> 00:36:02.918 hard subject for a lot of

00:36:02.938 --> 00:36:03.579 people these days.

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:05.280 So I would just say go support,

00:36:06.041 --> 00:36:08.483 just go follow these influencers and

00:36:09.963 --> 00:36:11.164 you know, like, like what they're,

00:36:11.224 --> 00:36:12.085 what they're fighting for.

00:36:12.626 --> 00:36:13.427 And that actually helps a

00:36:13.467 --> 00:36:14.547 lot more than I think a lot

00:36:14.568 --> 00:36:15.228 of people realize.

00:36:16.869 --> 00:36:17.530 Absolutely.

00:36:18.711 --> 00:36:20.454 So you touched on this before,

00:36:20.514 --> 00:36:21.474 but what would you say to

00:36:21.494 --> 00:36:22.637 your younger self knowing

00:36:22.657 --> 00:36:23.478 what you know today?

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:26.300 Um,

00:36:30.822 --> 00:36:33.344 I think your cat has an opinion on that.

00:36:33.364 --> 00:36:34.085 My cat has a few things, yeah.

00:36:34.105 --> 00:36:35.445 He's got a few ideas.

00:36:36.146 --> 00:36:40.590 Yeah, I mean, I'll say this again,

00:36:40.610 --> 00:36:41.550 because it was just such a

00:36:41.610 --> 00:36:42.391 big moment for me,

00:36:42.431 --> 00:36:44.373 but just to don't ask for permission.

00:36:45.414 --> 00:36:46.394 It really felt like the

00:36:46.554 --> 00:36:47.815 silliest thing when I kind

00:36:47.856 --> 00:36:48.737 of figured that out.

00:36:50.338 --> 00:36:51.780 But also, like, you know, without judgment,

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.480 because I was like, well,

00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:54.181 of course you didn't know

00:36:54.222 --> 00:36:55.282 you had permission to

00:36:57.242 --> 00:36:58.923 stand out and you didn't

00:36:58.943 --> 00:36:59.804 have to just blend in.

00:37:06.393 --> 00:37:08.275 And I think the other thing

00:37:08.335 --> 00:37:09.436 I would have told her was

00:37:10.097 --> 00:37:12.320 that the uncomfortability

00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:13.702 that you make people feel

00:37:13.742 --> 00:37:15.445 for just existing will never go away.

00:37:17.164 --> 00:37:19.826 to learn which I think you

00:37:19.846 --> 00:37:21.286 know I think you know us in

00:37:21.306 --> 00:37:22.186 the situations that we were

00:37:22.206 --> 00:37:23.268 in I think we were forced

00:37:23.307 --> 00:37:24.527 to learn this pretty

00:37:24.568 --> 00:37:26.608 quickly but there there for

00:37:26.628 --> 00:37:27.869 a while I fought that

00:37:27.909 --> 00:37:29.090 feeling though I thought

00:37:29.150 --> 00:37:32.251 that like that oh I won't

00:37:32.291 --> 00:37:33.333 be surprised next time

00:37:33.393 --> 00:37:34.293 maybe that was the last

00:37:34.333 --> 00:37:36.153 time you know oh well yeah

00:37:36.173 --> 00:37:37.094 it won't come from a doll

00:37:37.195 --> 00:37:38.795 or you know whatever it is um

00:37:39.795 --> 00:37:41.900 And this being surprised and

00:37:42.001 --> 00:37:44.726 having my expectations be

00:37:44.766 --> 00:37:46.409 squashed were always really

00:37:46.449 --> 00:37:48.034 difficult to recover from.

00:37:48.233 --> 00:37:48.414 Yeah.

00:37:49.070 --> 00:37:50.271 So I think that would have

00:37:50.291 --> 00:37:52.711 been learn how to use that

00:37:52.771 --> 00:37:54.072 uncomfortability to your

00:37:54.092 --> 00:37:56.052 advantage a little quicker

00:37:56.293 --> 00:37:59.855 and learn to kind of get

00:37:59.914 --> 00:38:01.416 comfortable with other

00:38:01.456 --> 00:38:02.655 people's uncomfortability.

00:38:02.956 --> 00:38:04.617 And now it's at a point where I'm like,

00:38:04.717 --> 00:38:06.137 I'm really into it,

00:38:06.918 --> 00:38:08.318 maybe a little too much.

00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:10.099 Now I got to kind of learn

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:11.481 to step back a little bit

00:38:11.501 --> 00:38:12.681 because I feel like I'm

00:38:12.721 --> 00:38:14.422 like this little demon of like,

00:38:14.802 --> 00:38:16.083 Ooh, someone's uncomfortable.

00:38:16.163 --> 00:38:17.623 Like how exciting.

00:38:18.864 --> 00:38:20.744 So I got to tone it back a bit, but those,

00:38:20.764 --> 00:38:21.405 those would have been the

00:38:21.425 --> 00:38:22.166 things I would have told her.

00:38:23.967 --> 00:38:24.947 I love the quote.

00:38:25.007 --> 00:38:26.188 I think it's from wonder why

00:38:26.208 --> 00:38:28.110 blend in when you were born to stand out.

00:38:28.369 --> 00:38:29.469 And somehow that reminds me

00:38:29.489 --> 00:38:30.490 of what you were just saying.

00:38:31.532 --> 00:38:32.612 So who do you see when you

00:38:32.652 --> 00:38:33.592 look in the mirror today?

00:38:35.271 --> 00:38:38.735 Oh man, I see this badass, unapologetic,

00:38:39.376 --> 00:38:44.742 like just like superhero, like woman.

00:38:44.822 --> 00:38:45.063 Yeah.

00:38:45.103 --> 00:38:45.523 I just,

00:38:46.304 --> 00:38:48.186 I see someone who's fun and who's

00:38:48.226 --> 00:38:51.431 like really enjoying themselves and,

00:38:51.672 --> 00:38:52.992 and who they are.

00:38:53.193 --> 00:38:54.014 And, um,

00:38:56.586 --> 00:38:57.827 Yeah, I just see someone who has,

00:38:57.887 --> 00:38:58.588 who would be like really

00:38:58.608 --> 00:38:59.349 fun to hang out with.

00:39:01.110 --> 00:39:03.012 So my last question is,

00:39:03.391 --> 00:39:05.652 what are your dreams for the future?

00:39:06.253 --> 00:39:07.295 And then where can people

00:39:07.335 --> 00:39:08.996 find you on social media or

00:39:09.996 --> 00:39:10.577 anywhere else?

00:39:12.085 --> 00:39:14.007 My ultimate dream would be

00:39:14.088 --> 00:39:16.911 that this is no longer a conversation,

00:39:17.351 --> 00:39:19.693 that this is no longer work

00:39:19.833 --> 00:39:21.275 and initiative and an

00:39:21.315 --> 00:39:22.777 intention that I'm trying to do,

00:39:22.858 --> 00:39:24.179 that inclusivity and

00:39:24.260 --> 00:39:25.981 diversity is something to

00:39:26.021 --> 00:39:26.822 fight for and that

00:39:26.862 --> 00:39:28.003 representation awareness is

00:39:28.023 --> 00:39:29.226 still a thing that we have to make.

00:39:30.065 --> 00:39:31.166 I would just hope that that

00:39:31.427 --> 00:39:33.646 now then exists and I can

00:39:34.108 --> 00:39:36.867 maybe move on to just

00:39:36.927 --> 00:39:38.489 creating normal stories

00:39:39.048 --> 00:39:40.088 that still include us,

00:39:40.128 --> 00:39:41.309 but normal has just kind of

00:39:41.329 --> 00:39:43.431 shifted to what reality truly is.

00:39:45.690 --> 00:39:48.032 But on a small scale, I mean, yeah,

00:39:48.172 --> 00:39:50.452 I would love to see people

00:39:50.472 --> 00:39:52.353 who look like me in my movies.

00:39:52.972 --> 00:39:54.153 I would love to see people

00:39:54.173 --> 00:39:57.514 who look like me in more dolls,

00:39:57.574 --> 00:39:58.355 Barbie dolls,

00:39:59.855 --> 00:40:00.815 on the billboards of the

00:40:00.856 --> 00:40:01.735 clothes that we wear.

00:40:03.936 --> 00:40:06.456 Those are smaller goals,

00:40:06.976 --> 00:40:08.518 but ultimately would just

00:40:08.538 --> 00:40:09.458 be that this conversation

00:40:09.518 --> 00:40:11.239 really doesn't need to be had anymore.

00:40:13.364 --> 00:40:14.786 And yeah, you can find me on Instagram.

00:40:14.826 --> 00:40:16.606 I'm on TikTok and YouTube,

00:40:16.626 --> 00:40:17.807 but my main platform is

00:40:17.847 --> 00:40:19.068 Instagram at flawless

00:40:19.188 --> 00:40:20.670 underscore effect with an

00:40:20.871 --> 00:40:23.452 A. Website's kind of being

00:40:23.492 --> 00:40:24.492 redone at the moment.

00:40:24.512 --> 00:40:28.496 So I'm the most active on the IG.

00:40:28.596 --> 00:40:29.197 I did go to the,

00:40:29.836 --> 00:40:31.117 there was a Barbie exhibit

00:40:31.237 --> 00:40:32.079 in New York City.

00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:34.641 And they had all the Barbies

00:40:35.340 --> 00:40:39.123 with different disabilities.

00:40:40.411 --> 00:40:41.853 But I was thinking as I was

00:40:41.873 --> 00:40:42.454 looking at them,

00:40:42.675 --> 00:40:44.036 how amazing it would be if

00:40:44.056 --> 00:40:45.699 there was a Barbie with a

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:46.521 facial difference.

00:40:47.021 --> 00:40:48.422 They have with hearing aid

00:40:48.664 --> 00:40:51.306 and not with an actual facial difference.

00:40:51.347 --> 00:40:52.148 So I agree.

00:40:52.228 --> 00:40:53.170 That would be huge.

00:40:53.826 --> 00:40:54.206 Yeah, I mean,

00:40:54.246 --> 00:40:55.226 there's there I was actually

00:40:55.246 --> 00:40:57.606 surprised how many dolls

00:40:57.646 --> 00:40:58.588 they kind of had in their

00:40:58.608 --> 00:40:59.768 diversity collection.

00:41:00.288 --> 00:41:01.108 Like, I think, you know, obviously,

00:41:01.128 --> 00:41:02.009 they have it a Lego,

00:41:02.068 --> 00:41:04.150 they have disabled Barbie in a wheelchair,

00:41:04.210 --> 00:41:04.309 right?

00:41:04.329 --> 00:41:06.530 I think they have limb difference Barbie,

00:41:06.550 --> 00:41:08.632 like a deaf Barbie.

00:41:09.231 --> 00:41:10.152 I think they have got blind

00:41:10.172 --> 00:41:13.012 Barbie to Barbie.

00:41:13.693 --> 00:41:15.014 So yeah, I mean, it's like,

00:41:15.233 --> 00:41:16.494 the next one in line is

00:41:16.534 --> 00:41:17.715 like a facial difference.

00:41:17.755 --> 00:41:18.635 Like, come on.

00:41:18.655 --> 00:41:20.476 Exactly.

00:41:20.536 --> 00:41:20.695 Yeah.

00:41:21.530 --> 00:41:22.429 Thank you, Paige,

00:41:23.050 --> 00:41:25.911 for sharing your story and your advocacy.

00:41:26.070 --> 00:41:27.811 And I love what you're doing

00:41:27.891 --> 00:41:30.652 on Instagram and your messages.

00:41:30.972 --> 00:41:32.833 And I can't wait to see you

00:41:32.994 --> 00:41:34.273 at My Face Celebrates on

00:41:34.313 --> 00:41:35.735 June fifth in New York City,

00:41:36.454 --> 00:41:37.755 where you will be our host.

00:41:37.855 --> 00:41:39.315 And we have Adam Pearson

00:41:39.356 --> 00:41:40.655 getting the Courage Award.

00:41:41.215 --> 00:41:43.317 And on My Face Stars Performing,

00:41:43.356 --> 00:41:45.378 you are going to love that part.

00:41:45.418 --> 00:41:46.398 It's my favorite part too.

00:41:47.211 --> 00:41:49.695 So if people are interested,

00:41:49.715 --> 00:41:51.016 you can learn more at

00:41:51.175 --> 00:41:52.918 myfacecelebrates.org.

00:41:53.038 --> 00:41:55.099 So thank you again, Paige.

00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:55.980 Thank you so much.

00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:56.981 I appreciate your time.

00:41:57.021 --> 00:41:58.402 This was so lovely and so,

00:41:58.503 --> 00:42:00.704 so excited to see you June fifth.

00:42:00.925 --> 00:42:02.606 It's going to be great.

00:42:02.626 --> 00:42:03.367 It's going to be so much fun.

00:42:03.387 --> 00:42:04.628 It's going to be the best.

00:42:04.648 --> 00:42:05.309 Thank you.

00:42:05.349 --> 00:42:05.989 Okay.

00:42:06.050 --> 00:42:06.829 Bye.

00:42:06.909 --> 00:42:07.271 Bye.

00:42:11.038 --> 00:42:12.639 Paige is an inspiration to

00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:14.481 me and everyone she meets.

00:42:14.681 --> 00:42:15.681 Everyone has a story,

00:42:15.742 --> 00:42:17.023 and I'm hopeful that by

00:42:17.083 --> 00:42:18.463 sharing stories like these,

00:42:18.923 --> 00:42:20.744 we can create a kinder world.

00:42:21.485 --> 00:42:22.766 For more than seventy years,

00:42:22.827 --> 00:42:24.228 MyFace has been dedicated

00:42:24.268 --> 00:42:25.509 to changing the faces and

00:42:25.548 --> 00:42:27.190 transforming the lives of

00:42:27.269 --> 00:42:28.670 children and adults with

00:42:28.952 --> 00:42:30.152 facial differences by

00:42:30.333 --> 00:42:32.693 providing access to holistic,

00:42:32.713 --> 00:42:35.757 comprehensive care, education, resources,

00:42:35.836 --> 00:42:37.418 and support that pave the

00:42:37.458 --> 00:42:38.679 way for better outcomes.

00:42:39.349 --> 00:42:42.170 To learn more, please visit myface.org.

00:42:42.771 --> 00:42:43.672 If you would like to learn

00:42:43.711 --> 00:42:44.853 more about the MyFace

00:42:44.873 --> 00:42:45.992 support groups so that you

00:42:46.012 --> 00:42:47.253 can connect with others in

00:42:47.293 --> 00:42:48.795 the craniofacial community,

00:42:49.376 --> 00:42:51.257 please visit myface.org

00:42:51.777 --> 00:42:53.938 slash online dash groups.

00:42:54.599 --> 00:42:55.920 Be sure to subscribe to

00:42:55.960 --> 00:42:57.541 MyFace My Story on your

00:42:57.581 --> 00:42:59.601 favorite podcast app and on

00:42:59.641 --> 00:43:01.384 YouTube to get notified of

00:43:01.423 --> 00:43:02.623 our next episode.

00:43:03.284 --> 00:43:04.324 If you'd like to receive

00:43:04.465 --> 00:43:06.586 email reminders of new episodes,

00:43:07.335 --> 00:43:10.617 Sign up at myface.org slash mystory.

00:43:10.777 --> 00:43:13.820 That's myface.org slash mystory.

00:43:14.721 --> 00:43:16.021 Thank you for joining us for

00:43:16.061 --> 00:43:18.443 this episode of My Face, My Story.

00:43:19.543 --> 00:43:20.045 Remember,

00:43:20.244 --> 00:43:22.286 it takes courage to share your story,

00:43:22.686 --> 00:43:29.030 so be brave and stand out.

On this month's myFace, myStory podcast, host Dina Zuckerberg speaks with Paige Lauren Billiot, a birthmark advocate, model, and film producer redefining beauty standards. Based in LA, Paige uses her platform to create representation for those with facial differences, celebrating her birthmark as her superpower. Featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, and Glamour, she challenges societal norms and empowers others to embrace their uniqueness with confidence. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on self-love, advocacy, and the power of authentic representation.

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