How to pronounce "smalls"

[Music]

[Music]

hi my name is Cameron Russell um and for

hi my name is Cameron Russell um and for

hi my name is Cameron Russell um and for the last uh little while I've been a

the last uh little while I've been a

the last uh little while I've been a model um actually for 10

model um actually for 10

model um actually for 10 years um and I feel like there's an

years um and I feel like there's an

years um and I feel like there's an uncomfortable tension in the room right

uncomfortable tension in the room right

uncomfortable tension in the room right now because I should not have worn this

now because I should not have worn this

now because I should not have worn this dress so luckily I brought an outfit

dress so luckily I brought an outfit

dress so luckily I brought an outfit change um this is the first outfit

change um this is the first outfit

change um this is the first outfit change on the Ted stage so you guys are

change on the Ted stage so you guys are

change on the Ted stage so you guys are pretty lucky to witness it I think um if

pretty lucky to witness it I think um if

pretty lucky to witness it I think um if some of the women were really horrified

some of the women were really horrified

some of the women were really horrified when I came out you don't have to tell

when I came out you don't have to tell

when I came out you don't have to tell me now but I'll find out later on

Twitter um I'd also note that I'm quite

Twitter um I'd also note that I'm quite

Twitter um I'd also note that I'm quite privileged to be able to transform what

privileged to be able to transform what

privileged to be able to transform what you think of me um in a very brief 10

you think of me um in a very brief 10

you think of me um in a very brief 10 seconds not everybody gets to do

seconds not everybody gets to do

seconds not everybody gets to do that these heels are very uncomfortable

that these heels are very uncomfortable

that these heels are very uncomfortable so good thing I wasn't going to wear

so good thing I wasn't going to wear

so good thing I wasn't going to wear them the worst part is putting this

them the worst part is putting this

them the worst part is putting this sweater over my head because that's when

sweater over my head because that's when

sweater over my head because that's when you all laugh at me so don't do anything

you all laugh at me so don't do anything

you all laugh at me so don't do anything while it's over my

head all

head all

head all right so why did I do that that was

right so why did I do that that was

right so why did I do that that was awkward

awkward

awkward um

um

um [Laughter]

[Laughter]

[Laughter] well um hopefully not as awkward as that

well um hopefully not as awkward as that

well um hopefully not as awkward as that picture

picture

picture uh image is

uh image is

uh image is powerful um but also image is

powerful um but also image is

powerful um but also image is superficial I just totally transformed

superficial I just totally transformed

superficial I just totally transformed what you thought of me in six seconds

what you thought of me in six seconds

what you thought of me in six seconds and and in this picture I had actually

and and in this picture I had actually

and and in this picture I had actually never had a boyfriend in real life um I

never had a boyfriend in real life um I

never had a boyfriend in real life um I was totally uncomfortable in the photog

was totally uncomfortable in the photog

was totally uncomfortable in the photog ER was telling me to Arch my back and

ER was telling me to Arch my back and

ER was telling me to Arch my back and put my hand in that guy's

put my hand in that guy's

put my hand in that guy's hair

hair

hair um and of course barring surgery um or

um and of course barring surgery um or

um and of course barring surgery um or the fake tan that I got two days ago for

the fake tan that I got two days ago for

the fake tan that I got two days ago for work um there's very little that we can

work um there's very little that we can

work um there's very little that we can do to transform how we look and how we

do to transform how we look and how we

do to transform how we look and how we look though it is superficial and

look though it is superficial and

look though it is superficial and immutable has a huge impact on our lives

immutable has a huge impact on our lives

immutable has a huge impact on our lives um so today for me being Fearless means

um so today for me being Fearless means

um so today for me being Fearless means being honest and I am on this stage

being honest and I am on this stage

being honest and I am on this stage because I am a model I'm on this stage

because I am a model I'm on this stage

because I am a model I'm on this stage because I am a pretty white woman in my

because I am a pretty white woman in my

because I am a pretty white woman in my industry we call that a sexy girl um and

industry we call that a sexy girl um and

industry we call that a sexy girl um and I'm going to answer the questions that

I'm going to answer the questions that

I'm going to answer the questions that people always ask me but with an honest

people always ask me but with an honest

people always ask me but with an honest twist so the first question is how do

twist so the first question is how do

twist so the first question is how do you become a model um and I always just

you become a model um and I always just

you become a model um and I always just say oh I was scouted but that means

say oh I was scouted but that means

say oh I was scouted but that means nothing um the real way that I became a

nothing um the real way that I became a

nothing um the real way that I became a model is I won a genetic Lottery and I

model is I won a genetic Lottery and I

model is I won a genetic Lottery and I am the recipient of a legacy and maybe

am the recipient of a legacy and maybe

am the recipient of a legacy and maybe you're wondering what is a legacy well

you're wondering what is a legacy well

you're wondering what is a legacy well for the past few centuries we have

for the past few centuries we have

for the past few centuries we have defined Beauty not just as um health and

defined Beauty not just as um health and

defined Beauty not just as um health and youth and symmetry that were

youth and symmetry that were

youth and symmetry that were biologically programmed to admire but

biologically programmed to admire but

biologically programmed to admire but also as tall slender figures and

also as tall slender figures and

also as tall slender figures and femininity and white skin and this is a

femininity and white skin and this is a

femininity and white skin and this is a legacy that was built for me and it's a

legacy that was built for me and it's a

legacy that was built for me and it's a legacy that I've been cashing out on um

legacy that I've been cashing out on um

legacy that I've been cashing out on um and I know there are people in the

and I know there are people in the

and I know there are people in the audience who are skeptical at this point

audience who are skeptical at this point

audience who are skeptical at this point and maybe there are some fashion who are

and maybe there are some fashion who are

and maybe there are some fashion who are like wait Naomi Tyra Joan Smalls louwen

like wait Naomi Tyra Joan Smalls louwen

like wait Naomi Tyra Joan Smalls louwen and first I commend you on your mom

and first I commend you on your mom

and first I commend you on your mom model knowledge very impressive

model knowledge very impressive

model knowledge very impressive um but unfortunately I have to inform

um but unfortunately I have to inform

um but unfortunately I have to inform you that in 2007 a very inspired myyu

you that in 2007 a very inspired myyu

you that in 2007 a very inspired myyu PhD student counted all the models on

PhD student counted all the models on

PhD student counted all the models on the runway every single one that was

the runway every single one that was

the runway every single one that was hired and of the 677 models that were

hired and of the 677 models that were

hired and of the 677 models that were hired only 27 or less than 4% were

hired only 27 or less than 4% were

hired only 27 or less than 4% were non-white the next question people

non-white the next question people

non-white the next question people always ask me is can I be a model when I

always ask me is can I be a model when I

always ask me is can I be a model when I grow up and the first answer is I don't

grow up and the first answer is I don't

grow up and the first answer is I don't know they don't put me in charge of that

know they don't put me in charge of that

know they don't put me in charge of that um but the second answer and what I

um but the second answer and what I

um but the second answer and what I really want to say to these little girls

really want to say to these little girls

really want to say to these little girls is why you know you can be anything you

is why you know you can be anything you

is why you know you can be anything you could be the president of the United

could be the president of the United

could be the president of the United States or the inventor of the next

States or the inventor of the next

States or the inventor of the next internet or a ninja cardiothoracic

internet or a ninja cardiothoracic

internet or a ninja cardiothoracic surgeon poet which would be awesome

surgeon poet which would be awesome

surgeon poet which would be awesome because you'd be the first

because you'd be the first

because you'd be the first one um if after this amazing list they

one um if after this amazing list they

one um if after this amazing list they still are like no no Cameron I want to

still are like no no Cameron I want to

still are like no no Cameron I want to be a model well then I say um be my boss

be a model well then I say um be my boss

be a model well then I say um be my boss because I'm not in charge of anything

because I'm not in charge of anything

because I'm not in charge of anything and you could be the editor and Chief of

and you could be the editor and Chief of

and you could be the editor and Chief of American Vogue or the CEO of H&M or the

American Vogue or the CEO of H&M or the

American Vogue or the CEO of H&M or the next Stephen

next Stephen

next Stephen misel um saying that you want to be a

misel um saying that you want to be a

misel um saying that you want to be a model when you grow up is akin to saying

model when you grow up is akin to saying

model when you grow up is akin to saying that you want to win the Powerball when

that you want to win the Powerball when

that you want to win the Powerball when you grow up it's you know out of your

you grow up it's you know out of your

you grow up it's you know out of your control and it's awesome and it's not a

control and it's awesome and it's not a

control and it's awesome and it's not a career path I will demonstrate for you

career path I will demonstrate for you

career path I will demonstrate for you now 10 years of accumulated model

now 10 years of accumulated model

now 10 years of accumulated model knowledge because unlike cardiothoracic

knowledge because unlike cardiothoracic

knowledge because unlike cardiothoracic surgeons it can just be distilled right

surgeons it can just be distilled right

surgeons it can just be distilled right into right now so if the photographer is

into right now so if the photographer is

into right now so if the photographer is right there and the light is right there

right there and the light is right there

right there and the light is right there like a nice HMI and the client says

like a nice HMI and the client says

like a nice HMI and the client says Cameron we want a walking shot well then

Cameron we want a walking shot well then

Cameron we want a walking shot well then this leg goes first nice and long this

this leg goes first nice and long this

this leg goes first nice and long this arm goes back this arm goes forward the

arm goes back this arm goes forward the

arm goes back this arm goes forward the head is at 3/4s and you just go back and

head is at 3/4s and you just go back and

head is at 3/4s and you just go back and forth just do that and then you look

forth just do that and then you look

forth just do that and then you look back at your imaginary friends 300 400

back at your imaginary friends 300 400

back at your imaginary friends 300 400 500

500

500 times it will look something like this

times it will look something like this

times it will look something like this um hopefully less awkward than that one

um hopefully less awkward than that one

um hopefully less awkward than that one in the middle that was I don't know what

in the middle that was I don't know what

in the middle that was I don't know what happened

happened

happened there unfortunately after you've gone to

there unfortunately after you've gone to

there unfortunately after you've gone to school and you have a resume and you've

school and you have a resume and you've

school and you have a resume and you've done a few jobs you can't say anything

done a few jobs you can't say anything

done a few jobs you can't say anything anymore so if you say you want to be the

anymore so if you say you want to be the

anymore so if you say you want to be the president of the United States but your

president of the United States but your

president of the United States but your resume reads underwear model 10 years

resume reads underwear model 10 years

resume reads underwear model 10 years people give you funny look the next

people give you funny look the next

people give you funny look the next question people always ask me is do they

question people always ask me is do they

question people always ask me is do they retouch all the photos and yeah they

retouch all the photos and yeah they

retouch all the photos and yeah they pretty much retouch all the photos but

pretty much retouch all the photos but

pretty much retouch all the photos but that is only a small component of what's

that is only a small component of what's

that is only a small component of what's happening this picture is the very first

happening this picture is the very first

happening this picture is the very first picture that I ever took and it's also

picture that I ever took and it's also

picture that I ever took and it's also the very first time that I had worn a

the very first time that I had worn a

the very first time that I had worn a bikini and I didn't even have my period

bikini and I didn't even have my period

bikini and I didn't even have my period yet I know we're getting personal but uh

yet I know we're getting personal but uh

yet I know we're getting personal but uh you know I was a young girl this is what

you know I was a young girl this is what

you know I was a young girl this is what I looked like with my grandma just um a

I looked like with my grandma just um a

I looked like with my grandma just um a few months

few months

few months earlier here's me on the same day as

earlier here's me on the same day as

earlier here's me on the same day as this shoot my friend got to come with me

this shoot my friend got to come with me

this shoot my friend got to come with me here's me at a slumber party if you few

here's me at a slumber party if you few

here's me at a slumber party if you few days before I shot French Vogue um

days before I shot French Vogue um

days before I shot French Vogue um here's me on the soccer team and in V

here's me on the soccer team and in V

here's me on the soccer team and in V magazine and here's me today and I hope

magazine and here's me today and I hope

magazine and here's me today and I hope what you're seeing is that these

what you're seeing is that these

what you're seeing is that these pictures are not pictures of me they are

pictures are not pictures of me they are

pictures are not pictures of me they are constructions and they are constructions

constructions and they are constructions

constructions and they are constructions by a group professionals by hair

by a group professionals by hair

by a group professionals by hair stylists and makeup artists and

stylists and makeup artists and

stylists and makeup artists and photographers and stylists and all of

photographers and stylists and all of

photographers and stylists and all of their assistants and pre-production and

their assistants and pre-production and

their assistants and pre-production and post-production and they build this

post-production and they build this

post-production and they build this that's not me um okay so the next

that's not me um okay so the next

that's not me um okay so the next question people always ask me is do you

question people always ask me is do you

question people always ask me is do you get free

get free

get free stuff I do have too many 8 in heels

stuff I do have too many 8 in heels

stuff I do have too many 8 in heels which I never get to wear except for

which I never get to wear except for

which I never get to wear except for earlier um but the free stuff that I get

earlier um but the free stuff that I get

earlier um but the free stuff that I get is the free stuff that I get in real

is the free stuff that I get in real

is the free stuff that I get in real life and that's what we don't like to

life and that's what we don't like to

life and that's what we don't like to talk about um I grew up in Cambridge and

talk about um I grew up in Cambridge and

talk about um I grew up in Cambridge and one time I went into a store and I

one time I went into a store and I

one time I went into a store and I forgot my money and they gave me the

forgot my money and they gave me the

forgot my money and they gave me the dress for

dress for

dress for free um when I was a teenager I was

free um when I was a teenager I was

free um when I was a teenager I was driving with my friend who was an awful

driving with my friend who was an awful

driving with my friend who was an awful driver and she ran AED and of course we

driver and she ran AED and of course we

driver and she ran AED and of course we got pulled over and all it took was a

got pulled over and all it took was a

got pulled over and all it took was a sorry officer and we were on our way um

sorry officer and we were on our way um

sorry officer and we were on our way um and I got these free things because of

and I got these free things because of

and I got these free things because of how I look not who I am and there are

how I look not who I am and there are

how I look not who I am and there are people paying a cost for how they look

people paying a cost for how they look

people paying a cost for how they look and not who they are I live in New York

and not who they are I live in New York

and not who they are I live in New York and last year of the 140,000 teenagers

and last year of the 140,000 teenagers

and last year of the 140,000 teenagers that were stop and frisked 86% of them

that were stop and frisked 86% of them

that were stop and frisked 86% of them were black and Latino and most of them

were black and Latino and most of them

were black and Latino and most of them were young men and there are only

were young men and there are only

were young men and there are only 177,000 young black and Latino men in

177,000 young black and Latino men in

177,000 young black and Latino men in New York so for them it's not a question

New York so for them it's not a question

New York so for them it's not a question of will I get stopped but how many times

of will I get stopped but how many times

of will I get stopped but how many times will I get stopped when will I get

will I get stopped when will I get

will I get stopped when will I get stopped um when I was researching this

stopped um when I was researching this

stopped um when I was researching this talk I found out that of the 13-year-old

talk I found out that of the 13-year-old

talk I found out that of the 13-year-old girls in United States 53% don't like

girls in United States 53% don't like

girls in United States 53% don't like their bodies and that number goes to 78%

their bodies and that number goes to 78%

their bodies and that number goes to 78% by the time that they're

by the time that they're

by the time that they're 17 so the last question people ask me is

17 so the last question people ask me is

17 so the last question people ask me is you know what is it like to be a model

you know what is it like to be a model

you know what is it like to be a model and I think the answer that they're

and I think the answer that they're

and I think the answer that they're looking for is if you are a little bit

looking for is if you are a little bit

looking for is if you are a little bit skinnier and you have shinier hair you

skinnier and you have shinier hair you

skinnier and you have shinier hair you will be so happy and fabulous and when

will be so happy and fabulous and when

will be so happy and fabulous and when we're backstage we give an answer that

we're backstage we give an answer that

we're backstage we give an answer that maybe makes it seem like that we say

maybe makes it seem like that we say

maybe makes it seem like that we say it's really amazing to travel and it's

it's really amazing to travel and it's

it's really amazing to travel and it's amazing to get to work with creative

amazing to get to work with creative

amazing to get to work with creative inspired passionate people and those

inspired passionate people and those

inspired passionate people and those things are true but they're only one

things are true but they're only one

things are true but they're only one half of the story because the thing that

half of the story because the thing that

half of the story because the thing that we never say on camera that I have never

we never say on camera that I have never

we never say on camera that I have never said on camera is I am

said on camera is I am

said on camera is I am insecure and I'm insecure because I have

insecure and I'm insecure because I have

insecure and I'm insecure because I have to think about what I look like every

to think about what I look like every

to think about what I look like every day um and if you ever are wondering you

day um and if you ever are wondering you

day um and if you ever are wondering you know if I have thinner thighs and

know if I have thinner thighs and

know if I have thinner thighs and shinier hair will I be happier um you

shinier hair will I be happier um you

shinier hair will I be happier um you just need to meet a group of models

just need to meet a group of models

just need to meet a group of models because they have the thinnest thighs

because they have the thinnest thighs

because they have the thinnest thighs and the shiniest hair and the coolest

and the shiniest hair and the coolest

and the shiniest hair and the coolest clothes and they're the most physically

clothes and they're the most physically

clothes and they're the most physically insecure women probably the

insecure women probably the

insecure women probably the planet um so when I was writing this

planet um so when I was writing this

planet um so when I was writing this talk I found it very difficult to strike

talk I found it very difficult to strike

talk I found it very difficult to strike an honest balance because on the one

an honest balance because on the one

an honest balance because on the one hand I felt very uncomfortable to come

hand I felt very uncomfortable to come

hand I felt very uncomfortable to come out here and say look I've received all

out here and say look I've received all

out here and say look I've received all these benefits from a deck stacked in my

these benefits from a deck stacked in my

these benefits from a deck stacked in my favor and it also felt really

favor and it also felt really

favor and it also felt really uncomfortable to follow that up with and

uncomfortable to follow that up with and

uncomfortable to follow that up with and it doesn't always make me happy but

it doesn't always make me happy but

it doesn't always make me happy but mostly it was difficult to unpack a

mostly it was difficult to unpack a

mostly it was difficult to unpack a legacy of gender and racial oppression

legacy of gender and racial oppression

legacy of gender and racial oppression when I'm one of the biggest

when I'm one of the biggest

when I'm one of the biggest beneficiaries um but

beneficiaries um but

beneficiaries um but I'm also happy and honored to be up here

I'm also happy and honored to be up here

I'm also happy and honored to be up here and I think that it's great I got to

and I think that it's great I got to

and I think that it's great I got to come you know before 10 or 20 or 30

come you know before 10 or 20 or 30

come you know before 10 or 20 or 30 years had passed and I'd had more agency

years had passed and I'd had more agency

years had passed and I'd had more agency in my career because maybe then I

in my career because maybe then I

in my career because maybe then I wouldn't tell the story of how I got my

wouldn't tell the story of how I got my

wouldn't tell the story of how I got my first job or maybe I wouldn't tell the

first job or maybe I wouldn't tell the

first job or maybe I wouldn't tell the story of how I paid for college which

story of how I paid for college which

story of how I paid for college which seems so important right

seems so important right

seems so important right now um if there's a takeaway to this

now um if there's a takeaway to this

now um if there's a takeaway to this talk I hope is that we all feel more

talk I hope is that we all feel more

talk I hope is that we all feel more comfortable acknowledging the power of

comfortable acknowledging the power of

comfortable acknowledging the power of image in our perceived successes and our

image in our perceived successes and our

image in our perceived successes and our perceived failures okay than thank you