What made you want to feature in the Comic Relief Red Nose Day campaign?
As a Caring Matters Now Young Ambassador, I want to raise awareness of CMN as well as strive to increase the the number of individuals with a visible difference in the media. Two years ago I joined Zebedee Talent, the world’s largest disabled talent agency, during covid it was very hard to get any jobs but as soon as I heard about Comic Relief (CR) I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me. I’m very happy to say that I’m one of Comic Relief’s models for 2022. I’ll be featuring on TV, Social Media, fundraising resources, TicTok and even newspapers!
How do you feel about featuring on the Comic Relief Red Nose Day campaign?
I feel confident and excited to feature in the CR campaign – and this is partly due to all the support given to me through Caring Matters Now. My parents first went to a Caring Matters Now event when I was 3 years old, by then I’d already had 2 operations. Caring matters now were then, and continue to be, a support network for my parents and me. As I’ve grown up, I’ve made friends through the charity who have been a great support to me, I have always felt that I can be myself without having to wear makeup to cover up my CMN. Through Caring Matters Now, I have met so me incredible people who have really inspired me to share my story just like they do! This has helped build my confidence to be able to share my CMN and my story with everyone! So, a huge thank you to Caring Matters Now and all of my friends I have met through the charity and the Young Ambassadors Programme!
Why do you think it is important for young people with CMN to be represented in media industry?
I think we’re all so used to seeing “drop dead gorgeous” models who don’t look realistic or seeing people who have been photoshopped in media. Nearly one in five people in the UK self-identify as having a visible difference, yet there is very little representation in media. I want to change negative perceptions of people living with visible differences by representing the CMN community through media campaigns. I hope my involvement with Comic Relief will inspire others living with CMN (or any visible difference) to embrace who they are by loving the skin they are in.
