This Pride, we spoke with five of our team members about what it means to have pride in who they are and how that impacts how they connect with themselves and the world around them. To The People invited Team YTTP to guest edit To The People, a space to bring stories to life, and highlight the artists and advocates who are bringing pride to the people.
Colin Umeki, Customer Experience Coordinator at YTTP, is closing out Pride Month by highlighting Justin-Rayne, a NYC-based creator who makes content for those interested in skincare, fashion, lifestyle, and podcasts. As Justin-Rayne tells To The People, “It’s my mission to make my interests and niches accessible to all, so they too can feel empowered to redefine their shine from the inside out.”
Here’s what Colin had to say:
“To have pride means to live in your truth and to be unafraid of being your complete self. It means to celebrate what makes you different, because it also makes you unique. The power to celebrate those differences is where we find our pride. I think that everybody has to come into this power in their own time, but it always helps to have people you can look to for encouragement along the way.
Justin-Rayne is a content creator, podcaster, and skincare enthusiast who is authentically himself in everything he does and doesn't sugarcoat anything. His platform helps to provide space for those who want to learn more about the products he features in a fun and relatable way. These are just a few reasons why I chose him as my feature in this year’s pride campaign.”
— Colin Umeki, he/him
Customer Experience Coordinator
Read on for Justin-Rayne’s responses to the Youth Questionnaire.
Question 01: How do you help others?
I create content for fans of skincare, fashion, podcasts, and lifestyle who want to learn and discover new products or services without being fed misinformation or false expectations for the value of an investment.
Question 02: What will your greatest impact be on this earth?
Empowering people from all walks of life to find their power on the inside, and help them learn how to radiate that from the inside out.
Question 03: Where are you most free?
I’m most free when I’m pouring into myself and others—whether that be self-care, creating content, or something as simple as helping someone decide which product works best for their skin.
Question 04: When were you recently perfectly content?
On a recent self-care trip to visit friends in Atlanta. I took time to eat what I wanted with people I love, workout in ways that fulfilled my body, try out new products I’d been putting off, and glow under the sun.
Question 05: What do you dream of?
I dream of being a creative powerhouse that uses my influence to create content, products, and services to enrich the lives of others.
Question 06: What does pride mean to you?
Pride means loving yourself unapologetically. Finding your shine on the inside and allowing it to radiate on the outside.
Question 10: Describe your relationship with your ego.
It’s continuously honest conversation filled with self-awareness. I keep my ego in check by using my found self-awareness to keep me in honest conversation with my actions and intentions.
Question 11: What is your favorite flower or tree, and why?
Cattelya Orchids—they usually bloom once or twice a year and take years to reach full maturity. Very much like the journey of life, sometime’s greatness doesn’t come to the quick, but to the patient of heart and spirit.
Question 12: To you, what is the most soothing sound?
Any sound of natural water, whether be waterfall, ocean, or underwater.
Question 13: What is your most useful affirmation?
Pick you. Choose you. Love you.
Question 19: If your energy were visible to others, what would it look like?
It would probably look like a bright radiating blush pink light—soft yet powerful.
Question 26: What does it mean to live your truth?
Living in your truth means showing up as yourself, every day, good or bad, and being comfortable with the reality that everyday isn’t the same, but treating others kindly is key.
Question 28: How does Youth express itself in you?
Youth expresses itself in my continuous drive to never be complacent, always seeking knowledge, and having a willingness to learn and grow.
