It’s not every day that you read about someone like Talia Joy Castellano.
At just 13 years old, the inspirational cancer sufferer has taken YouTube by storm, attracting more than 14 million viewers to her make-up video blog.
Six years ago, while spending time with another cancer survivor, Talia began experimenting with make-up and developed a love for it.
Now, after being discovered by US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres (scroll down for video), Talia has been given a rare opportunity to become the honorary face of beauty giant CoverGirl.
Talia, who was originally diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma diesease, a cancer that develops in infants and children and spreads throughout the body, has recently revealed she also has leukemia.
And although her prognosis is grim, the bubbly beauty is ready to fight both cancers head on and, with an incredibly positive attitude, has pledged to continue producing her videos “for as long as I can”.
“Basically, there are not really a lot of options for treatment anymore,” she says in one of her videos.
Talia now has to choose whether or not to undergo a bone marrow transplant, but the surgery would take a great toll on her already weakened body. If she doesn’t have the transplant, she has been given only four months to one year to live.
“I’m going to decide whether or not I want to do the bone marrow transplant, or whether or not I just don’t do it and live the time I have remaining,” she said.
So once a week, in the middle of enduring chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell transplants and blood transfusions, Talia records a tutorial.
Her love of make-up stemmed from her distaste for wearing wigs.
“I don’t like wigs, they’re so, I dunno… When I have on a wig I feel, not fake, just not me,” she says in one of her posts.
“When I put on my make-up I feel like I can embrace those features that I really like about myself. I feel if someone’s looking at me, they’re looking at my make-up, not looking at my bald head.
“I am just trying to make young girls, young adults, adults, anyone, feel beautiful by using make-up.”
And despite the hardship that cancer has caused throughout her young life, Talia is optimistically grateful.
“I’ve gotten so many benefits from [cancer]. Having a YouTube channel, having to inspire people and having people look up to me… I adore, I love make-up, using it as my wig… it’s amazing… the journey of having cancer was amazing. But every journey has an end,” she says.
“Having cancer has been a gift, but it’s a horrible, horrible thing.”
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