In this episode, host Ida Fanelli sits down with Christella Merveille-Ilunga—a Registered Behaviour Technician, educator, advocate, model, and former Miss Grand Rhode Island & Massachusetts 2022. Christella shares her unique journey from teaching and behavioural health to modelling and pageantry, opening up about the challenges, pressures, and opportunities that come with redefining traditional beauty standards. As the founder of Hair’s Culture Cosmetics, she also discusses her mission to inspire confidence, foster authentic self-expression, and advocate for safe, non-toxic beauty products.
Key Topics Covered: Mental Health & Advocacy: Navigating the hidden pressures of the modelling and pageant industries.
Debunking Myths: Addressing common misconceptions surrounding pageantry and high-fashion modelling. Redefining Beauty: Embracing individuality, body diversity, and authentic self-image.
Empowerment Through Cosmetics: How makeup builds confidence rather than hiding flaws. Clean Beauty & Safety: The critical importance of non-toxic, safe cosmetic formulations. Budget-Friendly Wellness: Practical, accessible strategies for daily self-care and holistic beauty.
What You’ll Hear: The reality behind beauty pageants and the pressure to conform. Christella’s career shift from behavioural health and education to the runway.
The story behind founding Hair’s Culture Cosmetics and its commitment to safety. Why true beauty is rooted in confidence and self-acceptance—not perfection. A powerful conversation on resilience, representation, and breaking stereotypes in the beauty industry.
Connect with Christella Merveille-Ilunga:
Instagram: @christellamilunga | @heiressculture
LinkedIn: Christella Merveille-Ilunga Email: christellamerveilleilu@gmail.com
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Follow Ida Fanelli: Link in Bio
Disclaimer: The content provided in this episode is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or platform. Content related to mental health, behavioural health, skincare, and cosmetics should not be taken as professional medical, psychological, or clinical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare or clinical provider regarding any medical conditions, mental health concerns, or product sensitivities.
#Pageants #Modeling #BeautyQueen #HolisticBeauty #Wellness #SelfCare #Podcast #MissGrand #BehavioralHealth #SkinCare #NonToxicBeauty #WomenEmpowerment #nontoxiccosmetics
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Welcome to Where Science Meets Self -Care with
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 Ida Fanelli. With over 30 years in beauty and
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 wellness and a background in medical science,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 Ida blends clinical knowledge with holistic care.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 Each week, she and her guests share insights
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 to help you achieve healthier skin, balanced
00:00:19 --> 00:00:23 energy, and empowered self -care. Now, here's
00:00:23 --> 00:00:32 your host, Ida Finelli. Today we have Christela
00:00:32 --> 00:00:37 Mervei Ilunga. She's a registered behavior technician
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 with over five years of experience supporting
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 individuals with autism and related disorders.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 She holds a master degree in elementary education
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 and is the head of the international organization
00:00:51 --> 00:00:55 Friends of Literacy, Ferenci, where she champions
00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 global literacy and education. Previously, Christella
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 taught at Orchard Academy in East Providence,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 Rhode Island, and held various community -focused
00:01:07 --> 00:01:11 roles. She was a member of the NWACP, a duty
00:01:11 --> 00:01:15 officer with the American Red Cross, and a volunteer
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 with NAMI, where she supported mental health
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 initiatives. She also worked as a residential
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 counselor and held multiple behavioral health
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 positions supporting children and families in
00:01:28 --> 00:01:32 need. These experiences demonstrate her long
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 -standing commitment to education, equity, and
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 uplifting others. Today, Christella is the founder
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 of Harris Culture Cosmetics, where she provides
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 personalized makeup artistry that emphasizes
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 wellness, confidence, and self -expression. Concerned
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 about the safety of beauty products, she actively
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 educates clients on non -toxic, health -conscious
00:01:57 --> 00:02:01 alternatives. She also shines in the public sphere
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 as a high -profile model and fashion creator,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 featured in numerous magazines. She was appointed
00:02:08 --> 00:02:13 Miss Grand Massachusetts 2022 and previously
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 held the title of Miss Grand Rhode Island, proudly
00:02:17 --> 00:02:21 representing her community in pageants and competitions.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, C .D.,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 Christella brings a multiple perspective shaped
00:02:29 --> 00:02:33 by her experiences living, studying, and working
00:02:33 --> 00:02:37 in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In recognition
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 of her influence, they created a wellness fitness
00:02:40 --> 00:02:44 doll in her image, encouraging young people to
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 embrace confidence, fitness, and self -care.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 Passionate about advocacy, fashion, and empowerment,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 Christella continues to open doors of awareness
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 in the pageant and modeling industries, promoting
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 a more holistic approach to health, beauty, and
00:03:03 --> 00:03:09 wellness. Welcome, Christella. Nice to be here.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:13 Welcome. How are you? I'm good, and I'm really
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 excited about our conversation today. Does your
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 training as a registered behavior technician
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 give you an advantage in managing stress and
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 maintaining balance in your current roles as
00:03:25 --> 00:03:30 a high -profile model and pageant winner? Honestly,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:34 yes. I feel like I have the mental advantage
00:03:34 --> 00:03:39 as well as a strategic edge in how to manage
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 relationships, how to manage onstage presence,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:47 and also a lot of the commotion that goes on
00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 in the background and as we prepare. For sure
00:03:51 --> 00:03:56 you do. Your career experience has included behavioral
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 health decisions. While those rules didn't directly
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 address nutrition, how have they shaped your
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 understanding of wellness, self -care, and resilience,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:11 both personally and professionally? As I'm working
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 with my clients, I have really learned how to
00:04:15 --> 00:04:19 prioritize what best fits them and in creating
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 that individualized approach i've learned that
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 i myself have to practice what i preach i need
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 to remember that i'm an individual there are
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 a lot of routines and suggestions in the beauty
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 world but they're not always individualized like
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 we're not all one -size -fits -all lifestyle
00:04:37 --> 00:04:41 and we have to do what best suits our budget
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 our environment and our personal health goals.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:50 Your background includes counseling people with
00:04:50 --> 00:04:54 addictions and autism and now you're thriving
00:04:54 --> 00:04:59 as a model and beauty pageant contestant. motivated
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 that shift and how do you bring your skills and
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 empathy, resilience, and advocacy into your work
00:05:05 --> 00:05:11 in the beauty industry? Growing up, my features
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 were not considered a beauty standard. I lived
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and
00:05:18 --> 00:05:22 that was the beauty standard. My skin color definitely
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 made a difference. And I don't like to sugarcoat
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 it. I like to be honest about that. So it shifted
00:05:29 --> 00:05:33 my focus from external beauty to just focusing
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 on my academic strengths and my skills otherwise.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 That's why I was so passionate about education.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 And I worked so hard to present myself as an
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 intelligent woman. And I worked so hard to study
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 and just focus on things that matter to the community
00:05:48 --> 00:05:53 outside of beauty. What shifted it? was i met
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 people in the beauty industry who recognized
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 me for my physical appearance which was rare
00:06:00 --> 00:06:04 to me and it took me a long time to accept it
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 because i've been raised to think that you don't
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 really look like what we want so i'm like okay
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 well if i don't look like it i can at least sound
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 relevant meaning that i can have information
00:06:17 --> 00:06:21 in my brain that can be input into the communities
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 or in the room that i find myself in that would
00:06:23 --> 00:06:30 make me valuable yeah well that's that's wonderful
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 you see what one person sees is beautiful and
00:06:34 --> 00:06:39 another sees is not beautiful or is is all up
00:06:39 --> 00:06:45 to their own perspective right yeah The beauty
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 pageant industry places high expectations on
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 contestants' maintenance programs, which include
00:06:51 --> 00:06:55 not just physical upkeep like fitness, diet,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 and styling, but also mental well -being, character
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 development, leadership skills, and professional
00:07:02 --> 00:07:06 coaching. Meeting these standards often requires
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 significant financial investment and commitment.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 How have you managed these demands and what impact
00:07:13 --> 00:07:18 have they had on your journey? At first, I really
00:07:18 --> 00:07:23 relied on external help to meet these financial
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 requirements. And mental emotional health is
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 something that came with my health care plan.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:34 So I am fortunate to be given free. mental health
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 resources. Not everyone has that. That's what
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 I learned later on. But as time went on, I wanted
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 to be more independent and see how much I could
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 stretch myself and see how much I could raise
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 on my own. And I found that I was very capable.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 And when I went into the international level,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 that's when I recognized that actually this is
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 going to put me in a financial deficit. And it
00:07:58 --> 00:08:02 really took a toll on my financial life in general.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 I put most of my money in pageantry and I was
00:08:07 --> 00:08:11 broke in every other environment and meaning
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 like I didn't have money to go out with friends.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 I didn't have money to go on vacations. I couldn't
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 afford other things. So I took a break on pageantry.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 I recognize that, yes, this is something that
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 I love and I like and I want to invest in, but
00:08:26 --> 00:08:30 I also have to remember that the rest of my life
00:08:30 --> 00:08:34 requires some type of financial input, meaning
00:08:34 --> 00:08:38 I need money aside to have to spend on birthdays
00:08:38 --> 00:08:42 for friends and family. I need to upkeep my personal
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 life financially I need to be able to pay my
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 phone bill like you know I need to make sure
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 I can eat healthy and when you're chasing a dream
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 which pageantry is really a dream for a lot of
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 women it's something that we all compete in but
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 it's not obtainable for all of us so it's really
00:08:58 --> 00:09:03 chasing a dream you forget reality because you
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 fall into the delusion of oh my god this could
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 be me this could be my life this could be my
00:09:07 --> 00:09:11 life and you would do anything to be the winner
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 and that's when you start to recognize okay so
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 where are my morals like where is the limit and
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 where's the boundary how much is too much for
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 me to spend on something are there other ways
00:09:24 --> 00:09:28 to be resourceful in this matter um coaching
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 is expensive as well sorry the sirens outside
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 but um coaching is expensive as well like physical
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 fitness and like actual like interview coaching
00:09:38 --> 00:09:42 so i had to really start to shop around and see
00:09:42 --> 00:09:46 what would fit this budget without taking me
00:09:46 --> 00:09:50 out i'm fortunate to work in a career that pays
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 me better than most people that's what i learned
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 after having a lot of conversations with girls
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 in my community especially in pat and modeling
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 i was like wow i get paid significantly higher
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 and i learned to appreciate my pay grade where
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 before i was like this is not enough and i was
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 so ungrateful but now i'm like okay no this is
00:10:09 --> 00:10:13 plenty um thank you for shifting my focus but
00:10:13 --> 00:10:17 yeah it's really about learning to stay grounded
00:10:17 --> 00:10:22 because yes you want to win yes you want everything
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 the glitz the glamour you want the best dress
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 out there but if you buy the best dress out there
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 and then you can't afford to have your phone
00:10:30 --> 00:10:34 on or internet or to go to a weekend getaway
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 with the girls then you're spending too much
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 and that's a lesson that only experience can
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 teach you and it's not something i'm ashamed
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 of i'm proud it's glad that i experienced that
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 because i'm like if i ever become a coach or
00:10:47 --> 00:10:51 I get a higher position in pageantry. I'm going
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 to hone that into women. Please don't spend your
00:10:54 --> 00:10:58 life savings on this. There are other things
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 you're going to get to do in life, and you don't
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 want to miss out on those opportunities. Most
00:11:02 --> 00:11:06 of my experiences are pageantry, pageantry, pageantry.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:10 I missed a lot, and I feel like it took a toll
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 on my social life, and that's what I'm learning
00:11:13 --> 00:11:18 to value now. Well, you deserve it. And now we'll
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 take time for a commercial break. Welcome back.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:27 The modeling and pageant industries have historically
00:11:27 --> 00:11:32 been divided by rigid weight and body type requirements,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 pressuring many to meet those standards through
00:11:35 --> 00:11:39 unhealthy means. Today, there's a growing movement
00:11:39 --> 00:11:43 for plus size and mid -size representation in
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 mainstream competitions. as well as pageants,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 this can create a dilemma of which category to
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 align with. How do you protect your physical
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 and mental well -being while meeting industry
00:11:55 --> 00:12:01 expectations? I first understand my body type.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:05 I know that I can be extremely thin if I work
00:12:05 --> 00:12:10 extremely hard to maintain it, but also a causes
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 a fatigue that's not healthy for me as a person.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:17 And the urgency to consistently work out, work
00:12:17 --> 00:12:20 out, work out, it'll take up too much time, effort,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:26 and energy. There are a lot of thicker and fuller
00:12:26 --> 00:12:30 -sized women who are placing in the pageant world,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 but I have not seen a winner who is thicker yet.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37 And until I do, I am going to be honest, I don't
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 know if that's what they're looking for in women.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:44 The only woman who has exemplified this was Miss
00:12:44 --> 00:12:49 Universe 2021, Harnas. She was from India, and
00:12:49 --> 00:12:54 she was extremely thin when she won. And something
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 that she did which was so instrumental for all
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 of us is she gained a lot of weight while being
00:13:01 --> 00:13:05 Miss Universe and did not lose it. at all until
00:13:05 --> 00:13:09 after her reign so she remained that size and
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 I'm sure she could have went through absurd means
00:13:12 --> 00:13:16 to become thinner but I think it was so instrumental
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 for her to do that because it's like this is
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 a reality for women you are going to gain weight
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 and you're not going to lose it overnight you
00:13:24 --> 00:13:27 don't have to go through a surgery to lose it
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 And you can still be confident in whatever body
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 size that you are. So we saw the extremely thin
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 woman become very, very full. Like if you look
00:13:37 --> 00:13:41 her up and you see the difference, it's insane.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 And she waited until after her reign. She crowned
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 her successor while being figure. So when you
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 compare when she won to when she was crowning
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 her successor, it's like two different women.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:56 But I love that she did that because it's realistic.
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 It's what girls need to see. We all have different
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 body types and they should be celebrated. So
00:14:03 --> 00:14:07 she still was able to be queen while she was
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 in that size. That's wonderful to hear. I didn't
00:14:09 --> 00:14:13 know that happened at all. That's very interesting.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:18 I'm higher to that. Me too, because after that,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:23 they placed the first fuller -sized woman at
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 Miss Universe. She was the first one. Full body,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:30 full figure, high placement. And that's what
00:14:30 --> 00:14:34 we need. We've yet to see a winner at that size,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 but I would love to be alive for that because
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 it would really help a lot of women understand
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 that your body weight and size doesn't define
00:14:42 --> 00:14:46 beauty or confidence. What are some of the biggest
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 misconceptions people have about the work it
00:14:48 --> 00:14:53 takes to succeed in pageantry and modeling? People
00:14:53 --> 00:14:57 believe that you need to be rich, one. People
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 believe that you need to have a lot of support
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 and everyone needs to like you. And people believe
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 that you have to be the most beautiful girl on
00:15:05 --> 00:15:10 stage. If you look at the pageants, most of the
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 time, the most beautiful, the most gorgeous,
00:15:13 --> 00:15:17 the most appealing physically is not the winner.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 Because there's so much more to beauty than just
00:15:21 --> 00:15:25 what you look like physically. And when you look
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 at the winner and you study the winner, you see
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 that there are other beautiful attributes and
00:15:31 --> 00:15:35 characteristics to her. And that's what characterizes
00:15:35 --> 00:15:38 the winner. Like you'll see the girls with the
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 perfect body, perfect hair, perfect everything
00:15:41 --> 00:15:45 down to the T, even the best dress. But the winner
00:15:45 --> 00:15:50 is the most relatable girl at the time. And that's
00:15:50 --> 00:15:54 something that makes pageantry very instrumental
00:15:54 --> 00:15:58 for women. Like, it changes and shifts that perspective
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 up. Like, when you grow up to school, you're
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 like, oh, that's the prettiest girl in school,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 so everyone has to like her. Well, you can be
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 the most average girl and still be very well
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 liked. and that's what it did for me you can
00:16:09 --> 00:16:13 be considered ordinary and be the best in pageantry
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 so many times i've competed and i've watched
00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 other competitions and we look at the girls and
00:16:18 --> 00:16:23 it's not just what you have it's what you have
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 inside like not your material and your physical
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 but what you have inside that shines externally
00:16:29 --> 00:16:34 on the stage and to the judges because They're
00:16:34 --> 00:16:37 looking for someone who, from the inside out,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 they can present on the next level or as their
00:16:40 --> 00:16:44 queen. If you're the full package already, there's
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 not much growth and development, and we don't
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 want to give women that unrealistic expectation
00:16:50 --> 00:16:54 that you don't have room to improve. I've been
00:16:54 --> 00:16:57 a judge one time, and one of the women had said
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 that, but we don't want to give them that expectation.
00:16:58 --> 00:17:02 I'm like, whoa. changed, blew my mind and changed
00:17:02 --> 00:17:07 my entire perspective on pageantry. Well, that's
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 neat that you got to see both sides of it, being
00:17:09 --> 00:17:14 a pageant contestant and a judge as well. And
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 that's great to hear that they don't just look
00:17:16 --> 00:17:20 at beauty and they do look at other parts of
00:17:20 --> 00:17:26 the women. You follow the discipline, wellness
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 and beauty routine. Can you share what that looks
00:17:29 --> 00:17:33 like for you on a day -to -day basis? Yes, it
00:17:33 --> 00:17:37 looks like drinking way more water than the average
00:17:37 --> 00:17:43 human being. It looks like getting unnecessary
00:17:43 --> 00:17:47 hours of rest and sleep. Resting a lot, especially
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 when the pageant is coming up, like you have
00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 to cut back on working and other things that
00:17:52 --> 00:17:56 can stress you out. It looks like keeping up.
00:17:56 --> 00:18:00 With your makeup and hair regimen, like, you
00:18:00 --> 00:18:03 have to know how to do your own hair and makeup.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 And you have to be really good at it. Not regular
00:18:05 --> 00:18:08 makeup, but stage makeup. So you're always keeping
00:18:08 --> 00:18:11 up with trends. But also keeping up with your
00:18:11 --> 00:18:15 skincare. Like, you have to have a nighttime,
00:18:16 --> 00:18:21 daytime takeoff, like, routine. And you also
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 have to remember to wear sunscreen so your skin
00:18:23 --> 00:18:27 doesn't look like. horrible and i don't know
00:18:27 --> 00:18:30 like you just have to go the extra mile because
00:18:30 --> 00:18:35 on stage every little detail is seen under that
00:18:35 --> 00:18:41 light oh just the missing one little thing during
00:18:41 --> 00:18:45 your preparation season throw you off completely
00:18:45 --> 00:18:49 so you really learn how to showcase the best
00:18:49 --> 00:18:53 you but the best you isn't built The night before
00:18:53 --> 00:18:56 the pageant, it's built five months in preparation.
00:18:58 --> 00:19:05 So pressure, right? Yes. And now we'll take time
00:19:05 --> 00:19:10 for a commercial break. Welcome back. Oh, some
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 days you just don't want to do anything and you
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 just want to be drowned, but you don't have that
00:19:14 --> 00:19:17 option. No, but it's like, how bad do you want
00:19:17 --> 00:19:22 it? Right? As a makeup artist with Harris Culture
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 Cosmetics, what has working closely with clients
00:19:25 --> 00:19:29 taught you about wellness, self -expression,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:33 and confidence? First and foremost, everyone
00:19:33 --> 00:19:38 has a different expectation of what their makeup
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 should look like. And you have to have that keen
00:19:41 --> 00:19:44 attention to detail, and you really do have to
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 give the client what they want. When it comes
00:19:46 --> 00:19:50 to wellness, they do look for cleanliness. So
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 you have to make sure that your brushes are clean,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:57 your products are like reusable and also new
00:19:57 --> 00:20:02 and up to date. Like clients are so picky, but
00:20:02 --> 00:20:05 it's good because it keeps excellence at the
00:20:05 --> 00:20:08 forefront, which we need. And also something
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 that I've learned, you have to just have patience.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:14 Like mental wellness. It has a lot to do with
00:20:14 --> 00:20:18 your ability to breathe, relax, and handle stress
00:20:18 --> 00:20:23 and high -stress situations, which unless I'm
00:20:23 --> 00:20:27 alone, it's very hard to find a low -stress situation.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:31 My job requires high -stress situations like
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 high -demand makeup artistry, high -demand pressure,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 pageantry, high -demand pressure, modeling, high
00:20:37 --> 00:20:40 -demand pressure, the gym, high -demand pressure.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:44 Everything is pressure. learning to just have
00:20:44 --> 00:20:47 patience and just to breathe even when you're
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 doing someone's makeup they can at any given
00:20:50 --> 00:20:53 time be like you know what start over i don't
00:20:53 --> 00:20:56 like this take it off start over i'm like or
00:20:56 --> 00:20:59 if they have like a friend who comes on board
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02 who's gonna say no to money like they got their
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 makeup done and they're like well my friend is
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 next door and she's going to the party too can
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 you do her makeup and you're like tired so you're
00:21:09 --> 00:21:16 like oh yeah So learning how to pivot, manage
00:21:16 --> 00:21:21 stress, patience, and pivoting. Yeah, well, working
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 with people, you know, you have to give them
00:21:23 --> 00:21:27 what they want, right? Yeah. I see that because
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 I'm an esthetician and I deal that with all the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:34 time. You've expressed concern about harmful
00:21:34 --> 00:21:38 ingredients in your cosmetics. How do you educate
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 yourself and your clients about safe products?
00:21:41 --> 00:21:44 And why is this such an important focus for you?
00:21:45 --> 00:21:49 Because skincare is a big deal for women especially.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 No one wants to break out. You don't even want
00:21:52 --> 00:21:56 the smallest pimple. It would stress you out
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 beyond belief. So you have to make sure that
00:21:59 --> 00:22:02 your products are safe to use for your client's
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 skin type. Also, it's very scientific. If you
00:22:05 --> 00:22:09 don't know what... will clash with oily or dry
00:22:09 --> 00:22:12 skin you're basically setting yourself up to
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 fail as a makeup artist and you're setting your
00:22:15 --> 00:22:20 clients up to fail and the goal is to make sure
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 that they're satisfied with the service so you
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 don't want to do that you don't want to set yourself
00:22:25 --> 00:22:29 up for failure so i try my best to read up i
00:22:29 --> 00:22:33 am subscribed to magazines i watch youtube videos
00:22:33 --> 00:22:37 i i just try to learn as much as i can about
00:22:37 --> 00:22:40 which are the best products and then also i like
00:22:40 --> 00:22:43 cruelty free products because some people are
00:22:43 --> 00:22:47 very big on that people have opinions that you
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 wouldn't think that they have and they have values
00:22:49 --> 00:22:52 that you wouldn't consider and being a makeup
00:22:52 --> 00:22:55 artist actually brought that to light you think
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 they're just gonna sit in the chair and get their
00:22:57 --> 00:23:02 face done no like oh you're gonna put this specific
00:23:02 --> 00:23:05 brand on my face don't you know that they have
00:23:05 --> 00:23:09 this lawsuit and this is the defamation i don't
00:23:09 --> 00:23:13 want to like i'm like I'm like, okay, so I also
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 have that foundation and that one and that. And
00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 you have to understand that some people have
00:23:18 --> 00:23:22 big opinions and it's based off of what's going
00:23:22 --> 00:23:25 on in the media and staying up to date with the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 media to be like, okay, I don't want to offend
00:23:27 --> 00:23:31 anyone because they don't like the influencer
00:23:31 --> 00:23:35 who's promoting the brand has some type of scandal
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 going on and they don't want to be associated
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 with that, even though it's just a makeup product.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:45 Do you understand? It's crazy. It's deep. And
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 allergies, too. You have to worry about people
00:23:47 --> 00:23:50 with allergies as well, right? Yeah, sensitive
00:23:50 --> 00:23:53 skin. I always send a questionnaire for skin
00:23:53 --> 00:24:00 type first before bringing anything. Yeah. Do
00:24:00 --> 00:24:03 you have any input on the type of cosmetics that
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 are suitable for your skin during work roles?
00:24:08 --> 00:24:12 Yes and no. I try because I work. both sides
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 i try not to stress out makeup artists as much
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 as possible i just want them to be able to do
00:24:17 --> 00:24:20 their job and go i'll only complain if i look
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 ridiculous like if you make me look like a clown
00:24:22 --> 00:24:26 i'm going to speak up but for the most part as
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 long as it's not something that's going to make
00:24:28 --> 00:24:31 me oily or break out like i have sensitive skin
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 And if you're not keeping up to date with like
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 cleaning your brushes, you are going to cause
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 me to break out. That's something that I do speak
00:24:38 --> 00:24:42 up on. And then also like pre like prep skin
00:24:42 --> 00:24:46 care, like making sure that you clean off my
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 face and have the right primer and the right
00:24:48 --> 00:24:52 like moisturizer and sunscreen. Because makeup
00:24:52 --> 00:24:56 comes out better if you apply sunscreen. That
00:24:56 --> 00:24:59 one little step makes your makeup look better.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:02 and lasts longer. People do not know that, but
00:25:02 --> 00:25:05 it does. That's a good trick for people to know
00:25:05 --> 00:25:09 now. Yeah. Thank you for that tip. Some people
00:25:09 --> 00:25:13 would be very happy to learn that. How do you
00:25:13 --> 00:25:16 differentiate between healthy self -care and
00:25:16 --> 00:25:19 the unhealthy pressures that sometimes come with
00:25:19 --> 00:25:22 the beauty industry? Well, you have to remember
00:25:22 --> 00:25:26 to be realistic with your budget. In the end,
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 the beauty industry does not care about our budget.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:31 Remember that they are promoting the best of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:35 the best. And if you don't have money to get
00:25:35 --> 00:25:38 your nails done every week or to get a facial
00:25:38 --> 00:25:42 every two weeks or to get laser hair removal
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 once or twice a month, things like that, like
00:25:44 --> 00:25:48 you have to just be budget friendly and you have
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 to pivot. So I can't afford the laser hair removal.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:55 So I'm going to go ahead and buy Nair. or shave
00:25:55 --> 00:25:58 the regular traditional way so knowing how to
00:25:58 --> 00:26:02 pivot based on budget that's really the best
00:26:02 --> 00:26:06 advice i could give for anybody and doing at
00:26:06 --> 00:26:09 -home facials when you can like of course you
00:26:09 --> 00:26:14 want to splurge and planning like if i work x
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 amount of hours i know i'm going to make this
00:26:16 --> 00:26:19 much money so i can actually book this appointment
00:26:20 --> 00:26:23 at this time so at least once a month I can go
00:26:23 --> 00:26:27 and get my facial I can get my nails done but
00:26:27 --> 00:26:31 I'm not going to prioritize beyond budget because
00:26:31 --> 00:26:34 it's unrealistic especially because the beauty
00:26:34 --> 00:26:37 industry is targeting a younger audience and
00:26:37 --> 00:26:41 for the most part they don't like they don't
00:26:41 --> 00:26:44 all have jobs like it's their parents money you
00:26:44 --> 00:26:49 know what I mean Yeah, I don't know why people
00:26:49 --> 00:26:52 tell you you need laser hair removal every two
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54 weeks. You shouldn't do that. I do laser hair
00:26:54 --> 00:26:58 removal and laser hair removal you do every two
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 months if it's below the neck and every month
00:27:01 --> 00:27:04 if it's above the neck. Just so people know this,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 if someone tells you to get it done closer together,
00:27:06 --> 00:27:09 you shouldn't do that. Okay, that would explain
00:27:09 --> 00:27:12 a lot. They're conning you when they're telling
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 you that you should do it every two weeks because
00:27:14 --> 00:27:21 laser only works. If it happens, the hair has
00:27:21 --> 00:27:24 to be connected to the root, okay? If the hair
00:27:24 --> 00:27:27 is connected to the root, it's not going to work.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:31 And there's three stages of growth. The hair
00:27:31 --> 00:27:35 falls out eventually. So don't ever let anybody
00:27:35 --> 00:27:39 tell you to get laser hair removal closer than
00:27:39 --> 00:27:43 a month apart above the neck and two months apart
00:27:43 --> 00:27:47 below the neck. Okay? You see? That's why we
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 speak to the experts, because we don't know better.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 And they know we don't know better. And also,
00:27:51 --> 00:27:58 not everyone who does laser hair removal is highly
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 professional. Does that make sense to you? No,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:03 the story, I just wanted to get that out there
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 so nobody would believe that if someone said
00:28:05 --> 00:28:09 it to them, okay? Yeah, thank you so much. Okay.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:13 As a fashion creator and pageant winner, how
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 do you hope... to challenge or shift industry
00:28:15 --> 00:28:18 expectations of what beauty should look like?
00:28:20 --> 00:28:23 So I like to shake the table. I like to stir
00:28:23 --> 00:28:26 the pot when it comes to the beauty industry,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:30 which might be a teacher. And I've heard their
00:28:30 --> 00:28:33 concerns when it comes to the beauty standards.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:38 I like to use my voice to make the ugly duckling
00:28:38 --> 00:28:41 understand that one day you can be a swan without
00:28:41 --> 00:28:44 meeting those unrealistic expectations. So we
00:28:44 --> 00:28:47 want to redefine what the beauty standard is.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 Yeah, they're telling you to be thin, but if
00:28:50 --> 00:28:55 your body cannot scientifically be thin, you're
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 wasting your time fighting. You know what I mean?
00:28:59 --> 00:29:02 Push yourself to a near -death experience trying
00:29:02 --> 00:29:05 to be skinny and your health is going to be compromised.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:10 Things like that. I just want women to be as
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 realistic for themselves as possible. Remember,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:16 the beauty standard is created for a specific
00:29:16 --> 00:29:22 woman. Not all women, but a specific woman. And
00:29:22 --> 00:29:26 now we'll take time for a commercial break. Welcome
00:29:26 --> 00:29:30 back. What message do you hope Christella, the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:33 wellness and fitness doll, conveys to young people
00:29:33 --> 00:29:37 about beauty, fitness, and self -care? Well,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:40 your body is different than everyone else's body,
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 so you have to embrace your unique body type.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:46 We can all be the same exact weight and look
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 differently. Have you ever seen one of those
00:29:48 --> 00:29:54 photos? Yeah, so having a target weight is ridiculous.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:57 You need to have... the best weight for your
00:29:57 --> 00:30:00 height and also your body type doesn't have to
00:30:00 --> 00:30:03 look like an Instagram model it's kind of unrealistic
00:30:03 --> 00:30:07 just loving how you look in clothing and how
00:30:07 --> 00:30:10 you feel when it comes to fitness and wellness
00:30:10 --> 00:30:14 it's all about how you feel and in your clothing
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 and in your body on a regular day -to -day basis
00:30:16 --> 00:30:21 I have felt amazing being thick or fuller and
00:30:21 --> 00:30:25 I've also felt amazing being thin It's just about
00:30:25 --> 00:30:29 how I feel and my mentality at the time. It doesn't
00:30:29 --> 00:30:32 really have anything to do with what my body
00:30:32 --> 00:30:35 actually looks like. So yeah, that's the message
00:30:35 --> 00:30:39 I want to send. Right. If you could change one
00:30:39 --> 00:30:42 standard or expectation in the pageant and modeling
00:30:42 --> 00:30:48 world, what would it be and why? I would change
00:30:48 --> 00:30:53 the expectation to be thin as a winner. in the
00:30:53 --> 00:30:57 pageant industry i really want them to not just
00:30:57 --> 00:31:00 what what she did um her nas when she was miss
00:31:00 --> 00:31:03 universe is instrumental because she did not
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 lose the weight and kept it i really want you
00:31:05 --> 00:31:07 to go look at her photos she just kept it she's
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 like i don't have to tell me how to spell her
00:31:08 --> 00:31:11 name i will because she really she really had
00:31:11 --> 00:31:14 miss universe has money to go get a surgery Like
00:31:14 --> 00:31:17 there's no way she does it, but she didn't. But
00:31:17 --> 00:31:20 I want them to crown a Miss Universe with a fuller
00:31:20 --> 00:31:23 body because that's going to change the game.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:27 Because a lot of women, they feel like confidence
00:31:27 --> 00:31:30 has to do with being thin or having a certain
00:31:30 --> 00:31:34 weight. And that's one thing I want them to break.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:38 Break that stigma permanently on all levels.
00:31:38 --> 00:31:41 Don't just place them. Don't just make them first
00:31:41 --> 00:31:44 runner up. Don't make them the almost beauty
00:31:44 --> 00:31:49 stand them. Make a fuller woman the beauty standard
00:31:49 --> 00:31:53 so that women who are thicker growing up or girls
00:31:53 --> 00:31:56 who are fuller don't get ostracized for their
00:31:56 --> 00:31:59 weight or feel ugly or constantly compared. And
00:31:59 --> 00:32:03 when I was a teacher, I recognized that like
00:32:03 --> 00:32:06 myself, I had to overcompensate with education.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:09 I don't want women to feel like, okay, so this
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 is my weakness. My looks are my weakness. No.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:16 Use your looks as a strength because beauty is
00:32:16 --> 00:32:19 not one size fits all. But the only way we can
00:32:19 --> 00:32:23 prove that point is if they break that specific
00:32:23 --> 00:32:28 limitation. Until they crown a winner who is
00:32:28 --> 00:32:32 not the physical appearance of the others, they're
00:32:32 --> 00:32:37 never going to change that. I don't know. That's
00:32:37 --> 00:32:42 my personal opinion. what advice would you give
00:32:42 --> 00:32:45 to young women entering the modeling or pageant
00:32:45 --> 00:32:49 industries who feel overwhelmed by the demand
00:32:49 --> 00:32:55 to look a certain way to embrace their true unique
00:32:55 --> 00:33:00 self because that shows on stage you can look
00:33:00 --> 00:33:04 like what you think they want and lose Because
00:33:04 --> 00:33:07 they're actually looking for you. Your personality
00:33:07 --> 00:33:12 has to shine on stage. And when it doesn't, it
00:33:12 --> 00:33:17 comes off as unauthentic. And they're not crowning
00:33:17 --> 00:33:20 a woman who's not her true self. Because you're
00:33:20 --> 00:33:23 not a real role model. Other girls have to be
00:33:23 --> 00:33:26 able to look up to you. And if you don't embrace
00:33:26 --> 00:33:30 who you are, we can't use you. That's basically
00:33:30 --> 00:33:34 the deal. They need to be able to see through
00:33:34 --> 00:33:37 the makeup, the hair, the nails, the glitz and
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 the glamour. So if you take all of that off,
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 which a lot of the times they do, you do have
00:33:42 --> 00:33:47 to go volunteer in like low socioeconomic neighborhoods
00:33:47 --> 00:33:50 and communities. And when you don't have all
00:33:50 --> 00:33:54 of that on, you're not hiding behind all of those
00:33:54 --> 00:33:57 things. Who are you? Because those people want
00:33:57 --> 00:34:01 to know. You have to be relatable first. So focusing
00:34:01 --> 00:34:06 so much on the standard what you look like is
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 kind of a waste of time. That's like the finishing
00:34:08 --> 00:34:14 touch. It's the inner work first. Yeah. Hey,
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 Christelle, I once had the chance to watch the
00:34:16 --> 00:34:19 Miss Universe Constant live. We just happened
00:34:19 --> 00:34:22 to be walking down the boardwalk and noticed
00:34:22 --> 00:34:25 that the sign was out there. We were able to
00:34:25 --> 00:34:28 get tickets at a reasonable price. Our seats
00:34:28 --> 00:34:32 were way up in the nosebleed section. They gave
00:34:32 --> 00:34:35 us opera glasses so we could get a better view
00:34:35 --> 00:34:39 of the whole experience. And yes, I'm showing
00:34:39 --> 00:34:44 my age saying that Bob Barker was the host. What
00:34:44 --> 00:34:47 was your favorite part? I can't remember. It
00:34:47 --> 00:34:50 was so long ago, but I just remember just the
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 whole experience. You know, it's so different
00:34:52 --> 00:34:55 when you see it live than when it's on TV. Right.
00:34:56 --> 00:34:59 And we happened to be there. Yep, it was odd.
00:35:00 --> 00:35:03 How do you see your role as both a model and
00:35:03 --> 00:35:06 an advocate using your platform to promote a
00:35:06 --> 00:35:09 more holistic, healthy and inclusive approach
00:35:09 --> 00:35:13 to beauty and wellness? It's the perfect platform.
00:35:14 --> 00:35:17 When you have a crown or when you're a model,
00:35:17 --> 00:35:20 you are put in the forefront. So people are more
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 likely to listen to you because. There's a reason
00:35:22 --> 00:35:25 why you're given those opportunities. The industry
00:35:25 --> 00:35:27 must trust you. And when you're entrusted with
00:35:27 --> 00:35:29 something like that, the message that you send
00:35:29 --> 00:35:32 is everything, which is why I feel like it's.
00:35:32 --> 00:35:35 better for me as someone who values education
00:35:35 --> 00:35:39 or values wellness to be in those rooms. Otherwise,
00:35:39 --> 00:35:42 I probably would have lost interest a long time
00:35:42 --> 00:35:44 ago. I think that's one of the key motivators
00:35:44 --> 00:35:49 that I get to spread these messages. And so many
00:35:49 --> 00:35:52 women, they need to hear that coming out of our
00:35:52 --> 00:35:55 mouths. It's not just from anybody, but from
00:35:55 --> 00:35:59 someone who is considered a beauty clean or a
00:35:59 --> 00:36:02 high profile model. they're saying it, so the
00:36:02 --> 00:36:06 younger girls or the demographic is more likely
00:36:06 --> 00:36:11 to listen. You mentioned wanting to open doors
00:36:11 --> 00:36:14 to new perspectives in pageantry and modeling.
00:36:14 --> 00:36:17 What possibilities do you think these industries
00:36:17 --> 00:36:20 should embrace to reflect better health, wellness,
00:36:20 --> 00:36:23 safe beauty practices, and self -expression?
00:36:25 --> 00:36:29 I believe that they should Find a middle ground
00:36:29 --> 00:36:35 between our platforms and education. Education
00:36:35 --> 00:36:39 is the best prevention and intervention to any
00:36:39 --> 00:36:43 problem. It is a solution, if not the solution.
00:36:43 --> 00:36:46 I'm not saying throw a textbook at someone every
00:36:46 --> 00:36:49 single time, but just like you gave the information
00:36:49 --> 00:36:54 about how often we should get laser hair removals.
00:36:54 --> 00:36:57 So many women are damaging their bodies, their
00:36:57 --> 00:37:00 skin, their health, mentally and physically,
00:37:00 --> 00:37:04 because they're uneducated on the right practices
00:37:04 --> 00:37:08 and the right approaches. And without that knowledge,
00:37:09 --> 00:37:11 we're basically screwed, for lack of a better
00:37:11 --> 00:37:16 word. And I really want to see more educated...
00:37:17 --> 00:37:21 opportunities for women in modeling and pageantry
00:37:21 --> 00:37:26 whether it's a seminar or just mentorships just
00:37:26 --> 00:37:30 so that people can have the opportunity to pursue
00:37:30 --> 00:37:34 beauty but not die while doing it like we want
00:37:34 --> 00:37:37 to keep the beautiful within the life you know
00:37:37 --> 00:37:40 yeah well these are some things I talk about
00:37:40 --> 00:37:44 on my my show just so you know that if you ever
00:37:44 --> 00:37:47 Want to watch it? I talk about things like this,
00:37:47 --> 00:37:54 okay? Pristella Merveilanga transitioned from
00:37:54 --> 00:37:57 a registered behavior technician to a model,
00:37:57 --> 00:38:00 pageant winner, and makeup artist entrepreneur.
00:38:00 --> 00:38:04 She discussed how she balances high -pressure
00:38:04 --> 00:38:07 roles while prioritizing wellness, confidence,
00:38:08 --> 00:38:12 and mental health. She also highlighted her advocacy
00:38:12 --> 00:38:15 for safe cosmetic practices, challenged traditional
00:38:15 --> 00:38:19 beauty standards, and emphasized the importance
00:38:19 --> 00:38:22 of holistic health, self -expression, and empowerment
00:38:22 --> 00:38:27 through her work, including her business, Eris
00:38:27 --> 00:38:31 Culture Cosmetics. Is that right? Christella
00:38:31 --> 00:38:34 inspires young people and indigenous professionals
00:38:34 --> 00:38:38 alike to embrace authenticity, wellness, and
00:38:38 --> 00:38:42 confidence in every aspect of life. To contact
00:38:42 --> 00:38:46 Christella, she has an Instagram at Christella
00:38:46 --> 00:38:52 M. Ilunga. And to contact to get makeup done
00:38:52 --> 00:38:56 from her, it's at Harris Culture. Her LinkedIn
00:38:56 --> 00:39:02 is Christella Merveilunga. Did I spell it right?
00:39:02 --> 00:39:09 Is it Christella Merveilunga at gmail .com? Yes.
00:39:11 --> 00:39:14 Thank you, Christella, for joining me on Where
00:39:14 --> 00:39:16 Science Meets Self -Care. Thank you for having
00:39:16 --> 00:39:18 me. You can view this episode on many platforms.
00:39:19 --> 00:39:22 Thank you for tuning in to Where Science Meets
00:39:22 --> 00:39:26 Self -Care with Ida Fennelly. Ida bridges clinical
00:39:26 --> 00:39:29 science with holistic wisdom, guiding you toward
00:39:29 --> 00:39:33 radiant skin, balanced energy, and lasting well
00:39:33 --> 00:39:36 -being. Don't forget to subscribe, share the
00:39:36 --> 00:39:39 show, and join us next time for more inspiration
00:39:39 --> 00:39:42 and practical tools to help you live beautifully
00:39:42 --> 00:39:47 inside and out. To connect with Ida, visit linktree/idafanelli
00:39:47 --> 00:39:52 Until then... Take good care of yourself.
00:39:52 --> 00:39:56 And remember, self-care is where science and
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 soul meet.