Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Nattalyee Randall

As a bigger black woman, people expect me to only sing gospel and R&B. I do love to sing that type of music, but there is so much more to me. Read more>>

ProtoJ THA ThreaT

I get misunderstood by a ton of people. I am ok with this, I just make a point to ensure they hear me out. I say ProtoJ THA ThreaT but, I PROMISE I’ll change this world. Read more>>

Nadjah Nicole

Since I was a little girl, everyone TOLD me who I was going to be. Almost every encounter where I was sharing my gift involved people telling me I was going to be this or that. Read more>>

Lynnette Cabrera

Being an older, disabled person of color and a woman, filmmaking opportunities are something I have to conjure up on my own. Read more>>

Camilla Dilshat

I am a London-born Uyghur – a turkic ethnic group from Central Asia, the majority of the population living within land occupied by China. Read more>>

Corey Godfrey

During my college years, I was labeled as a “folk artist,” which coming from my peers who were predominantly focused on pursuing photo realism in their work, seemed like it carried a derogatory undertone. Read more>>

Lauren Mariasoosay

I come from a mixed-race background, and in places like the theatre and film/tv industry, it always seems to be a struggle to find a way to fit in. Read more>>

Wendy Maruyama

Maybe being underestimated would be a more fitting term. I was born with a hearing loss and cerebral palsy but with speech and hearing therapy I have managed to join the mainstream as a young child and student through high school. Read more>>

Aran Penumbra

I’ve always felt like an outcast. Sometimes it really is like that, but other times I would say it’s all in my head. Anyhow, people frequently ask why am I the way I am. Read more>>

Caroline Reilly

Growing up, I was constantly confused about my artistry. I started playing guitar at around 14, and that’s honestly around the time I started writing music. Read more>>

Elle Vatel

I have always been so careful to label myself in public and especially even in a personal regard ; as it was traumatized into me throughout my child and teen yrs that I will always be negatively perceived immediately without fail by my worst abuser yet most important imprint of my life Read more>>

Em-J Smith

A common misconception is that if you are a dancer, you cant be an actor. Read more>>

Eva Kaleigh

My image as an artist is one of confidence, “the rockstar cool girl”, yet I don’t feel like this all the time. I still struggle a lot with insecurities, self-doubt, and the fear of looking stupid. Read more>>