TIB x Chelsea Languard
Chelsea Languard is a name you're going to want to remember. She's a powerhouse of creativity, resilience, and determination, and whose content you’re going to want in your feed.
Chelsea lives with an extremely rare genetic condition called OFCD, which affects just 1 in a million females. It affects her eyes, face, heart, and mouth, she has undergone over 20 eye surgeries, open heart surgery, and foot reconstruction surgery to date. She will need continuous medical assistance, but she doesn't let that stop her from living her life to the fullest.
Now Chelsea has overcome shame about her condition and now proudly celebrates who she is. And quite rightly so.
Her message to the world is simple yet profound: "The most powerful act of kindness you can perform is to BE YOU." She believes that everyone has the potential to achieve greatness and that we should never be ashamed of who we are. Something that TIB fully backs.
Chelsea is living proof that, even when life throws its most testing challenges in our path, we can overcome them, and use them to create a better world for others. And honestly, she’s one of the most inspirational people we have met.
So, let’s dive into Chelsea’s interview.
Can you take us to the moment in time, when you decided to start using your platform to talk openly about OFCD and why?
In March 2021, I was given the opportunity to share my journey with OFCD through a Snapchat channel called Seen Health. While initially feeling a strong sense of hesitancy to openly share this part of myself that I had kept hidden the majority of my life, there was something in my heart telling me to go for it; to rip the bandaid off and tell the world my most-kept secret. I didn’t want to continue hiding a significant part of myself that has ultimately shaped my life in every way imaginable. From the outlook I have on life to the hunger I have for inclusivity and disability awareness, my medical experiences with OFCD have given me no choice but to become familiar with change, look beyond the surface of external appearances, and persevere even if it feels nearly impossible.
You radiate positivity and confidence in your content, but has it always been this way?
Something I’ve grown to realize through my experiences is that oftentimes, the most challenging moments, the parts that most people don’t see, hold the greatest impact for us. One of the main goals I’ve had since the start of making content is to encompass both the high moments and the low ones. Although I try to tie in positivity to a majority of my posts, confidence is something I have always struggled with throughout my life.
One of the biggest areas I struggle with specifically is related to comments I receive, both in-person and online. Coming to terms with one’s disability can often take years. So, if someone feels comfortable enough to share their experiences online, it can feel pretty unsettling when receiving negative responses or bullying online. Although these types of comments and messages can be difficult to receive, I strongly believe each and every one continues to build onto the strength I have gained from all of my medical experiences.
How have you learned to embrace the good in tough situations and what does that look like?
Medical experiences and difficult circumstances are all I have known my entire life. Therefore, I’ve been pushed to accept that change is inevitable, no matter how scary, sudden, or major it may be. Through this, I have always tried to hold onto joy in the toughest of times while challenging myself to see the potential lessons that will come from it. Alongside this, I’ve realized over time that the smallest of things make the most significant impacts. From listening to your favorite songs and watching your favorite shows, to spending time with the people who make you laugh, all of the little sprinkles of joy you experience throughout your day, no matter what circumstances you’re facing, will help build a stronger foundation to continue to allow you to endure whatever it is you may be.
We LOVE your videos. How do you balance humour and empowerment in your content creation process, and what role do they play in challenging beauty norms?
I’ve always found that I’ve related most to other online creators who make light of their situations. Relatability is one of the things I think people tend to look for in a lot of things whether it be songs, artists, friends, shows, etc. Alongside this, I think it’s important to create a balance between finding the fun and comedy in situations and spreading awareness and education. It’s critical to reinforce that there is always a time and a place for fun AND for serious conversations. While it’s critical to provide the time and space for everyone to share their experiences, it’s also important for me to try to break the stigma that anything disability related has to be a serious, strict, and/or scary matter.
Can you share a specific moment when you realized the positive impact your content was having?
I can confidently identify that the most random messages create the biggest impact for me. Back in 2021, when I shared my story of having OFCD, I was shocked to see people with the same condition reaching out to me. Since then, receiving messages about how my content has helped them in some way, shape or form easily overpowers any negative comment. From having people tell me I helped them understand their friend or family better, or that I taught them something new about disabilities, every positive message ultimately gives me the fuel to continue creating content, despite whatever hate I may receive from time to time.
What advice would you give to someone struggling with believing in their own version of individual beauty?
The advice I would give to someone struggling with believing in their own version of individual beauty would be to continue to find themselves. Getting to know yourself will help you better understand what and who you need to put your time and energy towards. Also, continue to lean into what sets you out from the rest. I know oftentimes our insecurities stem from what makes us different from others, but that’s what truly makes up our individual beauty.
There’s only one version of yourself out there; only one you with the history, experiences, and challenges that you face. Despite all of the people I’ve met throughout the years with the same eye condition(s) or genetic disorder as me, no one’s story has matched up exactly. I used to find that frustrating, thinking I was the ONLY one who has experienced what I have, but now I see how much power and beauty there is to it! No one else can tell you what you have or have not experienced, how it made you feel, and the effect it’s had on you, other than yourself. So continue to lean into who you are at the core and don’t ever allow anyone to define who you are.
Last year you launched your podcast ‘Eye Am’. Can you tell us a little bit about how it feels to be openly speaking about your experiences?
All of my life, I was extremely selective about who I shared my experiences with and how much information I provided. After sharing my story in its entirety and finding a community of people who held similar experiences, I started wondering how many others were out there who needed the same sense of relatability and support. Although I definitely felt uncomfortable at first, my confidence to share freely and wholeheartedly started to increase as time went on. My voice began to strengthen and I began to know what I wanted to say and why. I’ve also found it powerful to bring other people onto the podcast, as well. After feeling silenced and too afraid to speak when I was given the chance, creating a safe space for people to be listened to and heard is incredibly meaningful to me.
How important is it to you to maintain a strong sense of individuality and how do you not fall into the trap of comparison?
Comparison is something I have always struggled with still to this day. However, something I’ve learned throughout the years trying to combat this is how similar each of us really are to one another. I used to think I was wildly dissimilar from the masses, but through time I’ve really understood that underneath it all, we’re all just humans trying to get through this incredibly complex world. We all have emotions, feelings, insecurities, setbacks, and challenges. Although they may appear different from one person to the next, we all have them. Once we learn to accept and understand that, I think a lot of people can begin to lessen the current gap of misunderstanding and judgment.
There’s so much beauty in the differences we hold. Through this realization, I have continuously felt compelled to learn more about myself while prioritizing my individuality. Although my condition literally makes me 1 in a million, I strongly believe we all are, just in different ways. Once we begin to lean into that, not only does life become more meaningful, but we can also learn more about, and further the love for, the number one person we’ll always have; ourselves.
In what ways do you believe the beauty industry can be more inclusive of people with disabilities, and what changes would you like to see?
Something I always say is that media representation should align with the people we encounter out in the world. When anyone steps outside, they see a multitude of people; people of all ages, races, genders, abilities, religions, and more. So, why don’t we see that same mix of people in the beauty and fashion industries?
If 1 in 3 people have a disability, then including one or few people with disabilities in fashion shows or campaigns does not allow for accurate representation. Ultimately, being inclusive of disabilities is not enough. Inclusion must be met with adaptability and accessibility. People can be included in something all they want, but are the products they're supposed to be representing accessible to them and their bodies? If brands and industries want to encompass true inclusive practices, reaching out to the consumers themselves within these communities can bridge the current gap that’s filled with misunderstanding and miscommunication. Alongside this, not assuming what others need by simply asking them instead will help break down the longstanding stigmas and stereotypes that remain present in almost every aspect of society today.
What impact do you want to leave in the world?
Ultimately, I want people to feel listened to. Providing a safe space for people to freely share, express, and simply be themselves is one of the most important things we can all offer one another. As far as the impact I want to leave in the world, I want to help alleviate loneliness within people’s medical experiences. I don’t want kids to have to go through what I did growing up. From bullying to self-consciousness about my disability, I want there to be an increased understanding of other’s differences and a decrease in judgment. Whenever I receive a negative comment, I feel a strong desire to educate the person on why that may be hurtful or wrong. Even if it doesn’t resonate with them or change their stance, maybe others will see it and be impacted. All in all, I want people of all ages to feel as though they never have to hide behind their story and experiences because of the constraints put up within society.
How do you feel now that you’re openly sharing your story? How has it changed you as a person and if anyone else out here is hiding their story, or hiding who they are for fear or shame or bulling, what advice would you give to them right now on how to start a journey of acceptance and self love?
Now that I’m openly sharing my story, I feel as though I can truly breathe. I can finally be me without worrying I’ll accidentally overshare or constantly have to feel the need to hide certain parts of myself to others. Now, I can definitely identify that since sharing my story online, my understanding of others and their experiences has significantly increased, as well as an increased sense of self. I feel bold, powerful, free, and beautiful; some of these in which I’m authentically experiencing for the very first time. For anyone who may be hiding their story or hiding who they are due to the what-if’s that may come from it, my advice would be to look internally before sharing externally. Ask yourself what it is that’s holding you back and what the worst-case scenario could be for you to share your story. You’ll never know what could be until you try. No matter what the next steps of your self-love and acceptance journey may look like, the most important thing is to prioritize yourself and your well-being. Sharing looks different for everyone and it’s critical to discover what the best option will be for you, personally.
What is your definition of beauty?
My definition of beauty is embracing what the world has historically defined as “flaws”. What pulls you out from the rest is the most beautiful thing about you. Gone are the days of submitting to the norms that have been pushed onto us! You’re beautiful because you’re YOU! You hold a unique story paired with your own opinions, beliefs, and feelings that are wonderfully fitted for you and you alone.
Instagram: @chelsealangg
TikTok: @chelsealanggg
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/chelsea-langerud
Blog: https://chelsealangerud.wixsite.com/site
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/chelsealang
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