Knowledge to Understand What We Are Looking At

By: Rajee Aerie

Every single one of us at some point or another has felt insecure about ourselves. Why? Because that insecurity stems from what society and the media tells us the ideal perfection is. Well it’s time that changes and we say screw society’s ideals and create new standards of beauty. Thankfully some companies are starting to embrace all bodies and all forms of beauty within society, like MIGA Swimwear and Aerie. These brands  are breaking the rules by encouraging women and girls to accept their bodies just as they are and find their worth within themselves.

I remember thinking I could never be a model because I am so petite or because I am not blonde and blue eyed, but rather Indian, and I used to think there were no Indian models. Then as I got older I noticed I never saw anyone with a disability in mainstream media so I thought I could definitely not be a model. Well here I am today a petite, Indian, female with a disability in a major campaign for Aerie and I couldn’t be more proud of myself for never quitting and persisting onwards in order to break stereotypes. I started out just shooting with friends and then shooting with photographers that needed to update their portfolios. Once I got more comfortable in front of the camera, I noticed my photos were much better and my confidence shined through.

I eventually signed with a talent agency and it’s been a slow progress because there is still a long way to go for companies and the TV/Film industry to include someone like me. I don’t want to play the stereotypical Indian doctor or the token person with a disability. I want to be cast as the protagonist, the best friend, the young mom or the girlfriend just as anyone else would be cast.No matter what field you are in don’t take no for an answer. You can do something, show them and prove them wrong. The other day I did a phone interview for an event production job and they were so impressed by my skills and experiences, I thought they would want to hire me on the spot. I then did an informal, in-person interview and I followed up with a thank you email but didn’t hear back. I couldn’t help but wonder was it because of my disability or my petite stature that I didn’t hear back? Did they think I wasn't commanding enough to lead a team?

Whatever the case may be, I shared this thought with my mom and she reminded me that if they didn’t even bother to have the courtesy to respond to my email, this wasn’t a company I wanted to be part of... I constantly remind myself rejection is just redirection to something bigger and better.It is important to teach each other about our differences and what we are capable of, so we are more knowledgeable and truly understand what it is we are looking at. Not all differences are visible and it is important to share our stories so we don’t automatically judge one another. It starts by simply saying “hello” and not being afraid to ask questions because we are all curious human beings.

Once we are provided with the proper knowledge and terminology, we can become more open-minded and accepting rather than stereotyping. Society should not dictate what the perfect ideal is, we have the power to celebrate and acknowledge the beauty within all of us. That’s why I think it is so important that the fashion industry includes all types of people. Everyone wants to feel beautiful and confident. We are all unique and beautiful in our own way, and when we can relate to a brand, there is a greater chance we are going to be a consumer of that brand. My biggest hope is that more brands start to offer adaptive clothing for all abilities.

Rajee Aerie is a model, actress and advocate for the disability community. She has appeared in national and regional commercials, as well as in print for Walgreens and Benefit, among others .Most recently you can find her in Aerie's Bra Campaign. You can follow her @rajeeaerie1st photo by: Andrew Buda and Alex Albeck for Aerie2nd photo by: Matt Kosterman

Comments

  • Posted by holmes on

    I want to tell the world, that the illuminati is real because i have
    seen the benefit of being a member of the illuminati, i have tried to
    join the illuminati some many times, i have been scammed alot, but i
    did not give up because i know if i find the real illuminati, my life
    will be changed forever so i did not stop, until one day i found the
    real illuminati official email and phone number, if you want to join
    the real illuminati, i want you to know that i can direct you to the
    really illuminati official email and phone number, brothers/sisters
    who is interested or who have be scammed so many times like me, that
    still have interest to join the illuminati because you believed that
    if you join your life will be changed, you do not have to worry about
    anything because i am here to show you all the right way to join the
    real illuminati, i want you all to know that to join the real
    illuminati it is free, you will not be ask to pay for any fee, all the
    process is free to join the illuminati, because when i joined the real
    illuminati i did not pay for any fee, when i was totally initiated to
    the illuminati, i was given so many benefits as a new member, i can
    tell you one of the benefits i was give an instant $2,000,000.00 to
    start a new life, brothers/sisters that have interest to join the
    illuminati, this is the real illuminati official email:
    illuminatinationwide2@gmail.com and the illuminati phone call center
    or WhatsApp number is +1 (229) 929‑9894 you can contact the illuminati
    official email or WhatsApp number of how to join its free to join the
    illuminati.

  • Posted by Gilbert Jonathan on

    VERIFIED CRYPTOCURRENCY RESTORATION/FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY.

    As a designer, I’m always on the lookout for new tools to improve my workflow. So, when I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a “revolutionary” design software, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The ad promised to streamline my design process with amazing features at an unbeatable price. Without a second thought, I clicked the link and made the purchase. But soon after buying the software, I realized it was a scam. The software never worked as promised, and when I tried to reach out for support, the company vanished without a trace. I was left feeling frustrated and powerless. 5,000 NZD, a significant amount for anyone, especially a freelancer, was gone, and there was no way to get it back… or so I thought. I was at a loss for what to do next. That’s when I discovered FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY. At first, I wasn’t sure if they could help. Could anyone actually recover money lost to online scams? But, desperate and with no other options, I decided to reach out. I contacted FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY, they explained the process in detail, reassured me that they would do everything in their power to recover my funds, and kept me updated every step of the way. To my amazement, just two days after I reached out, they successfully recovered 4,800 NZD of the 5,000 NZD I had lost. The relief I felt when I saw that money back in my account was indescribable. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Since then, I’ve made it a point to share my experience with other designers in the community. I want to raise awareness about the scams that are out there and remind others to be cautious when browsing for new software. Scammers can target anyone, even professionals like us. But I also want to let fellow designers know that if they do fall victim to fraud, they don’t have to give up. FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY is there to help. Now, I always tell others: Be skeptical of ads that seem too good to be true, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. But if you do get scammed, there’s hope. Don’t hesitate to contact FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERYTECH-CENTER. CO M, (WhatsApp): +1 (740)705-0711. They helped me get my money back in just two days, and they can help you too.
    Warm greetings,
    Mr. Gilbert Jonathan

  • Posted by Thomas Walsh on

    I’m a musician, and not long ago, I was scammed out of $12,000 by a fake music streaming service called Streamify Pro. It’s a story I never thought would happen to me, but it did, and I feel it’s important to share it, especially for other artists in the music industry who might be vulnerable to the same scam. I got an email from what seemed like a legitimate music streaming platform, offering me an opportunity to get my music on a huge new service. They promised high visibility, global exposure, and the chance to generate more revenue from streams. It seemed like a dream come true for an independent musician like me, who is always looking for ways to grow my audience. The email looked official, and they even provided testimonials from artists who’d “made it big” by using their service. They had a polished website with all the right buzzwords, making everything look very convincing. They also gave me a “special deal” on their package, offering me placement on their platform for a fee of $12,000. It was a hefty amount, but I thought it was worth the investment, considering the exposure they promised. I transferred the money, but soon after, things started to feel off. My music was never uploaded to their platform. They stopped responding to my emails, and the phone number they gave me went straight to voicemail. I tried to do some research and found that there were no actual reviews or artists talking about the service online. It hit me hard—I had just lost $12,000.That’s when I reached out to ASSET RESCUE SPECIALIST. I was feeling desperate and didn’t know what else to do. They were incredibly responsive and understood exactly what I was going through. They launched an investigation into the scam and worked tirelessly to recover the full amount that I had lost. To my amazement, they were able to recover 100% of the $12,000 I had been scammed out of. Since then, I’ve been recommending ASSET RESCUE SPECIALIST to other musicians. They did what seemed impossible, and their service was absolutely worth it. If you’re a musician or anyone in the creative industry, be cautious about these types of scams. I learned the hard way, but thanks to ASSET RESCUES SPECIALIST, I got all of my money back.

    DM FOR MORE DETAILS:
    mail: assetrescuespecialist@qualityservice.com
    WhatsApp:+ 1 9 0 3 5 5 9 1 7 3 3.
    support@assetrescuespecialist.com.

Leave a comment