SEE THE BEAUTY
CHRISLÈNE
Creator, activist and founder of La Remarkable.
What we do first for ourselves can sometimes turn out to be an unsuspected act of altruism. For example, when Chrislène first began promoting her message of acceptance and inclusion, it was mainly so she could learn to accept herself. Now - a few years and thousands of followers later - she finds herself at the head of a movement that advocates self-love and self-acceptance for everyone.
WHAT MADE YOU SIGN UP FOR THIS PROJECT?
I might seem self-indulgent, nominating myself, but this was a way for me to get out of my comfort zone. Not so long ago I couldn't even look at my own reflection, and here I am having my picture taken. It's like proof of my journey.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY, EXACTLY.
Everything I do now is to inspire other people to push their limits and give themselves the right to exist, to be unafraid to show who they are. In the end, that's beauty isn't it? To accept ourselves, our tastes, our points of view.
WHY IS YOUR BLOG CALLED LA REMARKABLE?
Because I realized one day that everyone is remarkable, including me. Everyone who has a voice and uses it is remarkable. Everyone who accepts themselves and others is remarkable. We may not always feel that way, but that's okay. We just need to remember everything we've done to get where we are. For example, if tomorrow I feel average, I will just have to remember that today, I did a photoshoot for Sans-Façon.
Chrislène nominated herself up for this project.
Now, before you go thinking that this was some kind of self-centered act, wait until you meet her.
“The central focus of my goal is to encourage people to get out of their comfort zone. And to do that, I have to start by getting out of it myself. So when I saw your ad, I said to myself, oh, I’ve never done that, let’s try.”
While working to climb out of her comfort zone, Chrislène really went for it. She recently arrived from Inukjuak, where she spent the last year as a medical secretary. She currently works in the diversity and inclusion department at Collège Ahuntsic and she has been running a blog called La Remarkable for a while now, from where she spreads her message of self-love.
“It might seem like I think I'm cool, calling my blog La Remarkable, but not so long ago I avoided my own reflection all the time. I wouldn't look at mirrors, windows, photos... I was able to see a person and tell them they were beautiful, but unable to offer myself the same kindness. I was convinced that I didn’t have the right to it.”
“I apologize, I’m ruining my beautiful makeup,” she laughs, wiping away a tear during her testimony. We laugh a little, then the discussion resumes. She explains to us that the name La Remarkable came from her realization that everyone is remarkable as long as they have a voice. We talk about all the people who have reached out to thank her for opening so many doors.
“It might seem like I think I'm cool, calling my blog La Remarkable, but not so long ago I avoided my own reflection all the time. I wouldn't look at mirrors, windows, photos... I was able to see a person and tell them they were beautiful, but unable to offer myself the same kindness. I was convinced that I didn’t have the right to it.”
But above all, we talk about beauty. The one with the capital "B".
"Beauty, of course, is not only physical. It's also not only your kindness or your other positive qualities. For me, it's also what you listen to, what your read. It's your perspective and your tastes, your point of view.
It took her a long time to find hers, her beauty, but Chrislène is now proud and serene. She accepts each day as it comes.