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. TRANSCRIPT    

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