A Powerful Image

Cameron Russell only 27 years old, a fashion model since 2003, knows about image.

" … there's very little that we can do to transform how we look, and how we look, though it is superficial and immutable, has a huge impact on our lives."

I can see my friends here in Blogistan nodding their heads.

Russell says she was able to became a model because she "won a genetic lottery".  It embarrasses me to admit to the many times I have cried, feeling sure I was a loser in that same lottery. 

She knows that so many see her and want to be who she is and do what she does, yet knowing that her success is a result of luck, she counsels a different powerful image:

"…what I really want to say to these little girls is, "Why? You know? You can be anything. You could be the President of the United States, or the inventor of the next Internet, or a ninja cardio-thoracic surgeon poet, which would be awesome, because you'd be the first one."

Ms. Russell, it seems to me, is very likely to rise above the limitations that starting working life as a lingerie model might have place upon a less thoughtful, intelligent person. 

She understands there is power beyond appearances. Well-spoken, and more importantly, not trapped by what others expect of her, she speaks with an authority that makes me hope to hear more. 

I have lots of thoughts on self image and the filter through which a successful individual might see the world, but for now, here is the TEDx talk Cameron Russell presented in 2012. 

Hear about the power of image, good and bad from this thoughtful, intelligent and obviously caring person.

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