Now That's TRUE Beauty! Teen Cancer Sufferer Becomes Honorory Face Of Cover Girl
Oct. 17 2012, Published 12:00 p.m. ET
A 13-year-old cancer sufferer has become the honorary face of Cover Girl after her inspirational online make-up video made her a YouTube star.
Talia Joy Castellano, who is battling both leukemia and a brain tumor, has attracted more than 14 million viewers to her video blog and the cosmetics giant recently launched their new campaign and released the first image of the beautiful, brave teen.
Talia, who may only have another four months to live, became obsessed with make-up six years ago, when she was first diagnosed with the stage four neuroblastoma cancer. The seventh grader says that she uses make-up because she doesn’t like wearing wigs and wants to draw attention to her facial features instead of her baldness.
Her YouTube channel is an Internet sensation. Once a week, after enduring punishing bouts of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplants and blood transfusions, Talia teaches her followers a range of fun and creative make-up techniques.
Talia was shown the Cover Girl campaign poster while appearing recently on Ellen and combined with the standing ovation she received, the brave Tween’s eyes welled up with tears.
Speaking on one of her videos, Talia said: “I don't like wigs, they're so, I dunno... When I have on a wig I feel, not fake, just not me.
“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.”
Earlier this year Talia revealed the tragic news on her video blog that on top of her brain tumor, she has also been diagnosed with leukemia.
She uploaded a post announcing that she now has “neuroblastoma and leukemia at the same time.”
However, she vowed to continue her make-up lessons for “as long as she can” and said: “I just wanted to tell you guys because I don't want it to be a secret.
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“Basically there are not really a lot of options for treatment anymore.”
Talia said that she could undergo a bone marrow transplant but that she is leaning towards not doing it because of the toll it will take on her body.
In the video Talia, who if she doesn’t have the bone marrow transplant has between four months to one year left to live, said: “I hope you guys understand where I'm coming from, not wanting to do the transplant.
“This is not fair to me anymore. I'm only 13. I shouldn't have to be doing this…it's really not fair for kids to have cancer.
“It really frickin sucks…the journey of having cancer was amazing. But every journey has an end.”
Let's hope Talia's journey does not come to a stop until the very moment she wants it to.
You can read more about the amazing teen and her brave battle on the Facebook page Angels For Talia.
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