Social networks |Long live difference !|The press

Even if their body does not meet beauty standards, they proudly display it. On social networks, these women celebrate their difference. Portraits.

Posted Dec 12 2021Véronique Larocque La Presse

Joannie Dupré-Roussel and her daughter Léa-Rose

Like many 3-year-old children, Léa-Rose loves to run, play and listen to Paw Patrol. Unlike many 3-year-olds, she lives with Treacher-Collins syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes craniofacial malformations. "It's hard to live with a craniofacial difference. It's the face. It's not hidden, ”says his mother, Joannie Dupré-Roussel, who also has Treacher-Collins syndrome, but in a less serious form.

Shortly after birth, Léa-Rose had to undergo a tracheostomy and a gastrostomy. Not knowing what her daughter's daily life would be like, Joannie sought information. On Instagram, she came across the accounts of children with the same syndrome as Léa-Rose. A little older, they accomplished the same things as young people of their age. “These accounts have done me a lot of good. »

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In order to make people aware of the difference, Joannie Dupré-Roussel also decided to tell her story and that of Léa-Rose on social networks. She admits, however, that she found it difficult to publish the first photos. At first, his Instagram account was private.

It was really a long journey. I don't know what made that at some point I decided to put my account public. Probably I wanted to fight.

Joannie Dupre-Roussel

Today, his account is followed by more than 10,000 followers. “I have really nice comments. I don't have hate messages. That's a lot, a lot of encouragement. What particularly touches the mother of the family is that she sees the positive effect of her publications. “There are a lot of people who tell me that they came across my account and told their child about it. »

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"By coming across atypical faces, you develop a tolerance," believes Joannie Dupré-Roussel. With Marie-Ève ​​Piché, alias Maman caffeine, she co-wrote a book featuring Léa-Rose. This is due out next winter.

Check out Joannie Dupré-Roussel's Instagram account

Aiesha Robinson

Aiesha Robinson was 18 when her life changed. She had just learned that she had vitiligo, a skin condition that causes depigmentation in certain areas. Whitish spots appeared on his hands, then on his face. "I couldn't leave the house without someone giving me a weird look or saying a hurtful comment," she recalled.

Even though she kept smiling in front of her family and friends, the young Montrealer quietly sank into depression. Suicidal thoughts haunted him. “That’s where I took a knife. I went into the bathroom and said, "That's enough." I no longer wanted to live with this pain on a daily basis. »

"What saved me was that I called a friend who supported me that night," she says. I realized that I needed help. »

For Aiesha Robinson, it was the beginning of a great journey towards self-acceptance. At the end of this process, she wanted to speak up to help people living in a similar situation. It was to social networks that she turned to do so. How did she feel when she posted her first photo?

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I had the impression that before, I wore a mask and that finally, I took it off. The love I received was overwhelming.

Aiesha Robinson

To spread her message of self-acceptance, Aiesha Robinson gives talks and founded Born to Rise, a non-profit organization that lifts the veil on taboo subjects. She has also done modeling with major brands, including Dermablend and La Maison Simons, another way to celebrate the beauty of her difference.

Check out Aiesha Robinson's Instagram account

Khate Lessard

Since participating in Double Occupation South Africa in 2019, Khate Lessard has become one of the most well-known trans people in Quebec. However, before joining the girls' house of the popular reality show, it was on YouTube that she spoke about her reality. Why did she decide to expose herself like this on the web? “To look for people who would understand me, who would look like me, with whom I could talk. »

As she began her transition process, she returned to live in Abitibi with her family.

I remember, I was in my head, in big questions. I had no one to turn to.

Khate Lessard

His YouTube videos have been like a bottle in the sea.

TFG needs to stop increasing my credit limit or maybe i need to learn how to stop using it 😩 now I'm buying electronics on credit

— THE SOUTH AFRICAN 🇿🇦 Mon Jul 19 09:22:17 +0000 2021