For 19-year-old Chella Man, growing up as a deaf, genderqueer POC was an isolating experience - so much so that he's now working across social media to increase visibility for others.
Speaking to the artist expressed his struggles with gender identity, opening up about the challenges it presented during his youth.
"Before I hit double-digits, I felt both beautiful and confident simply because I was presenting masculine, which is what I preferred," Man said.
He continued: "However, once puberty hit, my body shifted against my wishes. As my chest and curves grew, I felt my sense of beauty and confidence fade away. I fought it, of course."
"But the disconnection between my mind and body overshadowed any compliment I received regarding my beauty," he said.
Since undergoing his transition on testosterone, Man has taken to YouTube, sharing his experiences with other members of the trans community through discussions on subjects including body dysphoria and chest scarring.
"Today I feel most beautiful when I am eating healthy, plant-based foods, drinking enough water and working out consistently," he told i-D.
"Of course, there are times when I feel insecure, either when I feel my dysphoria kicking in or when I have a bad pimple," he continued. "But recently I’ve realized that only I can make myself insecure for the most part, other people do not have that power over me."
"Moving forward, I’d like to see more accessibility, more representation, open-mindedness, empathy and forgiveness. The bravest thing you can do is what you know in your heart is right," he concluded.
