Cancer sufferer Talia Joy Castellano, 13, is made honorary Cover Girl
Thursday 18 October 2012
A child cancer sufferer, who has been given less than a year to live, has become the honorary face of cosmetics giant Cover Girl thanks to her inspiring make up tutorials.
Talia Joy Castellano, 13, is suffering from both nueroblastoma and leukemia, but still manages to post weekly videos on her blog showing others how to maximize their look.
The teenager, who developed an interest in cosmetics when she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007, appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show, where she was met with a standing ovation.
Running to greet the host, the youngster was watery eyed as she admitted: “I’m shaking I love you so much!”
Explaining her obsession with cosmetics, 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.”
So dedicated is Talia to her 14 million followers, she even revealed her latest diagnosis to them in one of her blogs over the summer.
“I just wanted to tell you guys because I don't want it to be a secret,” she said. “Basically there are not really a lot of options for treatment anymore.”
The teenager goes onto explain that a bone marrow transplant is possible, but that she is leaning towards not having it due to the sheer number of surgeries she has already had to endure.
“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 says.
“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.”
Inspiringly, Talia even sees the benefits from having the illness, saying: “The journey of having cancer was amazing. But every journey has an end. Having cancer has been a gift, but it's a horrible, horrible thing.”
Chat show host Ellen was clearly in awe of the youngster, and asked her how she manages to stay so positive in spite of her ill health.
Talia replied: “I mean a little fishy told me, ‘Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,’” referring to a line in Finding Nemo, for which Degeneres provided the voice of Dory.
“You really are quite something” says the host. “There's a depth to your soul that is not a 13-year-old soul. You’re an old soul and you are very special and amazing, and I’m so honoured that you wanted to meet me and that I got to meet you.”