Makeup Artist Uses TikTok to Educate on Ulcerative Colitis

Too typically, the very best magnificence tales go Untold, solely primarily based on an individual’s pores and skin colour, faith, gender expression, incapacity, or socioeconomic standing. Here, we’re passing the mic to among the most bold and gifted voices within the trade to allow them to share, in their very own phrases, the outstanding story of how they got here to be — and the way they’re utilizing magnificence to change the world for the higher. Up subsequent: Sydney Morgan, a make-up artist with ulcerative colitis that went viral on TikTok and is utilizing her platform to assist educate individuals concerning the persistent sickness.
I’m 19 years previous and I obtained recognized with ulcerative colitis, which is a persistent inflammatory bowel illness that causes irritation within the digestive tract, my junior 12 months of highschool. I did not look sick however I had to go on a bunch of various drugs and coverings — it was actually trial and error as a result of it is completely different for everybody. I went from prognosis till October 2019 attempting to get my situation into remission however sadly, nothing labored for me. So, in October of 2019, I obtained emergency surgical procedure to have my whole colon eliminated — my entire massive gut.
Before I obtained sick, I had been a cheerleader and gymnast my entire life, however my major sport was monitor and discipline. It was my favourite sport and I used to be planning on going to school for it. But my junior 12 months, I used to be very sick and I had certified for our state championship, however I wasn’t even ready to go due to how sick I used to be. I ended up within the hospital. I used to be heartbroken however I knew I had yet one more 12 months left as a result of I used to be solely a junior. Then COVID ended up canceling my senior 12 months season of monitor and discipline. That was actually exhausting for me.
I graduated highschool in 2020 and all the time deliberate on taking a spot 12 months as a result of I had a couple of surgical procedures that I wanted to recuperate from. That was pre-pandemic in order quickly as COVID-19 hit too, that sealed my resolution to take a 12 months off. I began my TikTok account in July, simply a few months after graduating highschool. I could not actually depart my home too actually because I used to be nonetheless having signs that held me to my dwelling so it was one thing that I might do although I used to be sick. It was one thing I might focus my time on and simply distract myself, and I loved doing it.
I’ve been an artist my entire life — drawing and portray ever since I might choose up a pencil — however I actually obtained into the make-up half later in life. As a cheerleader and gymnast, I’d put on slightly little bit of make-up for that, like eyeshadow. But once I was in highschool, I used to be within the artwork membership and we might volunteer at occasions in the neighborhood to paint youngsters’ faces. All the children knew that I might paint their rather well, so they might all come to my line and have me do it. That’s once I realized I used to be fairly good at it and I figured I’d try to do it on myself. I made slightly Instagram account, which had 400 followers, and I’d simply publish little face portray and make-up seems on there for my household and my mates.

When I began my TikTok account, I informed no one about it. None of my mates or household knew that I had it as a result of I actually needed to see if I might accomplish it utterly on my very own. My first video simply blew up from the leap. I captioned it one thing like “Day one among doing my make-up till I get observed,” and it hit 1,000,000 views on day 9. Then it hit three or 4 million views and I hit 10K followers. I used to be freaking out; I believed it was the best factor ever. Some of my mates even began to see it as a result of the video ended up on their For You web page. They have been like, “Since when do you’ve got this account? I did not know you had some followers on TikTok.”
For me, make-up is my escape. It’s a method that I can specific my creativity and simply let unfastened. I simply find it irresistible. I pull inspiration from in every single place in life. I maintain a operating record within the notes of my cellphone each time I see or hear one thing that conjures up me and I’ve a sketchbook that I take advantage of to draw make-up seems in.
Just as a result of you’ve got an sickness does not imply that it defines you. If you’ve got a dream, you simply want to go for it.
I’ve even created a couple of make-up seems impressed by Crohn’s and colitis — purple is the notice colour, so I integrated a purple ribbon into one. I would like to assist increase consciousness as a result of once I was recognized, I had by no means even heard of Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis earlier than. And particularly once I obtained my ostomy bag in 2019, I used to be actually scared as a result of that is a really huge change; it is a huge surgical procedure. I used to be attempting to look issues up to see, what is that this like? How do individuals address it? I couldn’t discover a single factor.
The largest factor with Crohn’s and colitis is you do not look sick, however this can be a remark you by no means need to give somebody. Because you actually do not look sick on the surface, however that does not invalidate your sickness or how you feel. I bear in mind my junior promenade was one of many absolute worst days of my life. I used to be so, so sick, however I actually simply needed to go and get my footage taken and the whole lot. I ended up having to depart the promenade early and I used to be within the hospital the following day, however if you happen to see these photographs, I regarded nice. I regarded completely fantastic; I regarded like all people else. You would by no means know with this sickness.
It’s tremendous essential to me for not solely youngsters with Crohn’s and Colitis, however anybody that has a persistent sickness, to see that I’m nonetheless right here and I’m doing effectively. I can do the whole lot that anyone else can do. I’m younger. I’ve this sickness that makes me completely different, nevertheless it would not restrict me from doing something that anyone else can. I actually need to educate those who not solely have the illness however much more individuals that do not have it or have by no means heard of it, like I used to be prior to being recognized.
Just as a result of you’ve got an sickness does not imply that it defines you. If you’ve got a dream, you simply want to go for it.
Image Source: Courtesy of Sydney Morgan