Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keyla Caba. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Keyla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Volunteering to help me put on a charity event. I am currently planning to host a charity event fashion show to help fund research for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. So far everything has been 100 percent fully donated by everyone involved.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a disabled international runway and print model and advocate for those suffering from chronic and rare diseases. I say I stumbled into the business but every day that passes now I find this is my purpose. I had recently had major surgery and wanted to do a body positivity photoshoot to help build my confidence. I showed them to a friend of mine who used to work for Vogue and she ended up surprising me and submitting the photos to a magazine which ended up being published. After that, that was all the confidence and encouragement I needed.

It’s hard for me to choose one thing because I feel so honored and blessed to have achieved the goals I have despite the obstacles I have been dealt with in life. I would say walking London Fashion Week and obtaining a Proclamation Declaring October 1st to be Ostomy Awareness Day in Massachusetts. Listening and learning from other public speakers and advocates, helped me find the courage and voice to speak up and want to be the change for so many. I also made sure I was open to learning anything and everything about modeling and advocating. I made sure to study the best in the game and put in the work that was needed.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease it changed and continues to change my life in numerous ways. I had to shift my 20-year-old mindset into thinking of a life with a new lifelong friend. I had to learn to make choices that may not have been the ones my heart wanted to make, but what I know were best for my body. At the time I didn’t understand why I had to pivot in my career, business, and life. The more I advocate and model, the more I know the pivot made is continuing to send me in the correct direction.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Absolutely. I live for the moments that make my heart happy. Modeling and Advocating are them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keyla.ic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/keyla_ire/status/1598431407109447686
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-25-dont-let-chronic-illness-hold-you-back-the/id1620705140?i=1000604524975

Image Credits
I own the rights to all these images