In this powerful episode, Ida Fanelli sits down with Christella Merveille-Ilunga, a Registered Behaviour Technician, educator, mental health advocate, model, and former Miss Grand Rhode Island & Massachusetts 2022 titleholder.
Christella shares her inspiring journey from teaching and behavioural health to modelling and pageantry, revealing the hidden pressures within the beauty and pageant industries. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about pageants, the mental health challenges models face, and how beauty standards are being redefined to celebrate individuality and authenticity.
As the founder of Heiress Culture Cosmetics, Christella also discusses her mission to promote confidence, self-expression, and safe, non-toxic beauty products—especially for people with sensitive skin and those seeking clean, conscious beauty alternatives.
Key Topics Covered:
Mental health advocacy and hidden pressures in modelling and pageantry
Common misconceptions about beauty pageants and the modelling industry
Redefining beauty standards and embracing individuality
Makeup and cosmetics as tools for empowerment and self-confidence
The importance of safe, non-toxic beauty products
Practical, budget-friendly beauty and wellness strategies
What You’ll Hear:
The truth behind beauty pageants and modelling pressure
Christella’s journey from teaching and behavioural health to the runway
Why she founded Heiress Culture Cosmetics for safe, non-toxic beauty
Why real beauty is rooted in confidence—not perfection
This conversation is a must-watch for anyone navigating self-esteem, identity, beauty culture, or mental wellness in today’s image-driven world.
Connect with Christella: • Instagram:
@christellamilunga | @heiressculture
•LinkedIn: Christella Merveille-Ilunga
•Email: christellamerveilleilu@gmail.com
Important Consumer Notice Disclaimer:
The information provided on this educational page is for general informational and cosmetic purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you suspect you have a skin disorder, chronic condition, or need specialized treatment, please consult a licensed physician or dermatologist immediately to seek professional medical guidance.
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#BeautyStandards #MentalHealthAdvocacy #CleanBeauty #NonToxicBeauty #WomenEmpowerment #SelfConfidence #PageantLife #ModelingIndustry #RedefiningBeauty #WellnessJourney #BeautyWithPurpose #AuthenticBeauty #Pageants # Modelling #BeautyQueen #HolisticBeauty #Wellness #SelfCare #Podcast #MissGrand #BehavioralHealth #SkinCare #NonToxicBeauty
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Your background includes counseling people with
00:00:04 --> 00:00:08 addictions and autism, and now you're thriving
00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 as a model and beauty pageant contestant. What
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 motivated that shift, and how do you bring your
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 skills in empathy, resilience, and advocacy into
00:00:18 --> 00:00:23 your work in the beauty industry? Growing up,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 my features were not considered a beauty standard.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 I lived in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 And that was the beauty standard. My skin color
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 definitely. made a difference. And I don't like
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 to sugarcoat it. I like to be honest about that.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:46 So it shifted my focus from external beauty to
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 just focusing on my academic strengths and my
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 skills otherwise. That's why I was so passionate
00:00:51 --> 00:00:55 about education. And I worked so hard to present
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 myself as an intelligent woman. And I worked
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 so hard to study and just focus on things that
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 matter to the community outside of beauty. What
00:01:04 --> 00:01:08 shifted it? was I met people in the beauty industry
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 who recognized me for my physical appearance,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 which was rare to me. And it took me a long time
00:01:15 --> 00:01:20 to accept it because I've been raised to think
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 that you don't really look like what we want.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 So I'm like, okay, well, if I don't look like
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 it, I can at least sound. relevant, meaning that
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 I can have information in my brain that can be
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 input into the communities or in the room that
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 I find myself in that would make me valuable.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 And the shift was that. And now I find it hard
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 to find a middle ground.