Talia Joy Castellano was diagnosed with terminal cancer six years ago, but she hasn’t let her illness get in the way of her dream of becoming a fashion sensation.
The thirteen-year-old US girl started posting make-up tutorials on YouTube following her leukaemia diagnosis on Valentine’s Day in 2007, and has since clocked up almost 40 million views on her beauty channel.
Now, despite doctors telling the beauty queen she may have only four to 12 months to live, she is moving into the world of fashion, teaming up with Los Angeles-based designer Urban Chappa.
The budding fashionista told the Daily Mail that she wanted to “show young teens that they can express themselves through clothes”.
Talia, who describes her own style at “preppy”, “rocker” and “boho chic” is set to launch clothing range that “symbolises [her] sassy, brave and inspiring spirit of overcoming all odds”.
She caught the eye of Ms Chappa, who runs womenswear label Maison De Urbana and overcame breast cancer at the age of 19, after seeing the inspirational teen on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last year.
Ms Chappa then flew to Florida earlier this month to meet Talia at the Arnold Palmer hospital where she has been admitted with symptoms including nausea and vomiting.
“Even though she was sick in the hospital, we made the best of our time. She’s so full of life that it’s hard for me to imagine that she has cancer.
“We talked, sketched, worked on her line. My head hurts to know that she has to go through this and that she had so much she wanted to do and accomplish.”
Talia is looking forward to launching the collection in the coming weeks, with proceeds from sales going toward paying her exorbitant medical bills.
The brand will be called That Bald Chick, to reflect Talia’s hairless appearance.
The teenager maintains a positive attitude around her illness and fashion and beauty ventures, saying in one YouTube clip she has “got many benefits from [cancer]”.
“Having a YouTube channel, having to inspire people and having people look up to me … the journey of having cancer was amazing. But every journey has to end.”
Last year she was made an honorary CoverGirl ambassador, and was described by role model Ellen DeGeneres as an “inspiration”.
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