As a baby my folks took pictures of me and sent them into catalogs. I was always around the cameras, and beautiful people. It wasn't until I reached middle school that the kids would make fun of me. I think they were just jealous, but while I was trying to be nice, they would walk away because I was "a model". I never got money for it, my parents took it and saved it for me to go to college. They told me that just because I'm beautiful doesn't mean I can't be intelligent. So I went to school, I wanted to become a teacher, to teach kids that we're all beautiful individuals, we just need to embrace ourselves.
I won a scholarship for a project of mine. It was called, "Eye of the Beholder". We had everyone in my class take pictures of themselves and we posted them on the front cover of the college newsletter. Every month there was a new face. But we had them take pictures without make-up, and without any special effects. The result was amazing, it really taught us how to love ourselves and how to battle the hazing and the low self-esteem within our society. I was recognized for an award called 'The Battle Against Media". Basically, through a non-violent approach, we all took a stand against the media and it's view on beauty. it was truly amazing. this has been my drive throughout life. To show everyone that they are beautiful!
Thanks to Sylvia and cast member Christina Montalto for sharing this story.
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