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.

Sam Chavez

Being misunderstood and mischaracterized is in my opinion a part of the work artists and creatives do. The point isn’t to always be liked or understood for what we do but to do it because it speaks to us, hasn’t been talked about with others or hasn’t been explored yet. Art should tickle the brain and give humans a chance to interpret and create opinions. Some of my work has created various emotions and thoughts with each person I have discussed it with and it’s definitely my favorite part. Read more>>

Jessica Soare

Haha , always. As a model & actress I am Push myself & prepare myself for all sorts of things and always for how my work will be received by others, my vision my not be the same as yours but that’s why we don’t have the same set of eyes, the focus is always the positive part, I know and understand my craft and the market that I’m in receives it even better. If you are not my target audience then I don’t need to pay attention to your opinion. Read more>>

Whitney Cardo

When I tell people I am a pageant girl, the first thought that comes to mind is the stereotype. The unfortunate stereotype that pageant girls are judged only by their appearance. Sure, we are all beautiful, but there’s so much more that goes into being a pageant girl than getting dolled up to walk on stage. Read more>>

Heather Sportsman

Sure. It’s been on many occasions. I am truly the type of individual that marches to the beat of my own drum. I don’t bother people, I mind my business, and I honestly don’t care what everyone else has going on. I have worked very hard to get here and I’m still nowhere near I’d like to be. Whenever I have a win for myself, I want to celebrate! Not just with my family and friends, but with others who may need the inspiration that they can do it too. Pure intentions and real love on my end. Read more>>

Joanna Gerard

This is a really big one for me because I have experienced a tremendous amount of judgment in my work, or my persona. As someone who was genetically born into a family of psychics, I have been doing readings since I was four years old. Everyone knows their are a ton of fake ones out there, and I definitely don’t fit the stereotype of a psychic. I never went around talking about “Spirit Guides” or Crystals. I don”t wear the typical “Psychic attire” or claim to be Native American or a high priestess or something… haha. I’m not “Earthy” in the respect that I like glamour and makeup, I get facials, and like to drink out of fancy glasses. I just never fit into that world. Read more>>

Melissa Williams

I have felt misunderstood many times in the 2o plus years I have been woking full time as an artist. I believe that there is a great misunderstanding in the world about the ability to actually make a living as a creative person and artist. People always ask me “Is this is your full time job?” “You can make a living and support yourself doing this?” Read more>>

Briah Christia

For the majority of my time on this Earth, I have felt misunderstood mainly by my peers. With the success that I have had as a basketball player and even now as a young adult and maturing into a woman, most people have think that I am mean, arrogant, cocky, or full of conceit. With people feeling this way or misunderstanding my character, it was easy for people to misunderstand my work or who I really am as a person because they didn’t know my heart or the place in which I was coming from while creating when it came to my intentions. I was always aware that people felt that I acted or was a certain way and I always wondered why. Read more>>

Snowy The Cat

As a DJ / Visual Artist / Feline, I think people expect more from me and often confuse the need to express myself with my need to be entertained by small birds and squirrels. I always say, “you can hate the game, but don’t hate the gamer.” Read more>>

Don Dulli

In a world where freedom of speech doesn’t seem as free, I think anytime someone expresses themselves they risk a chance of being judged and losing followers. This same risk factor is the viral phenomenal that most influencers thrive off of it. This two fold reality is a high and low space to live in. With this being established, yes I have many times been misunderstood. Most times I just accept it and move on. Read more>>

Tatiana ‘Tajci’ Cameron

I became very popular as a pop singer in my country (former Yugoslavia, now Croatia) at the age of 19. Due to my youth and inability to stand up to the much more experienced (and assertive) producers, I wasn’t able to have as much of a voice as I would have liked to. I wanted to sing music that uplifts and brings hope and encouragement, but my brand was one of a bubble gum sexy pop star. I enjoyed parts of it, but it wasn’t whole me. Read more>>

Brian Jordan

Yes honestly I feel like it has been a mix of both, I’ve been misunderstood as well as my work/ Craft. When it comes to poetry it is a art form that is universally appealing but sometimes not universally understood. The depth of poetry goes far beyond the surface when it comes to expression. Myself being a poet I’ve suffered the lack of acceptance at times for being just that, a poet, not a rapper, a singer or any other sort. Now honestly speaking poetry has birth rap, but some people don’t understand the backstory. Read more>>

Lisa Kuntze

A lot of people think that I am unintelligent because of the content I create, They fail to realize I am a lifelong learner, successful entrepreneur and educated. Read more>>

Ebony Scott

Yes sometimes as a blogger people tend to always think you’re lying or bash you for reporting on their favorite celebrities it can become a head ache at times. I hate when people try to comment underneath my post trying to compare me to taska K when I never put my personal into any story that I post. I always learned to fact check before I post a story because you’re creditably is everything. Read more>>

Yama Six

Main thing we get misunderstood is always our gender and sexual orientation. The name is a play on just that so I somewhat use it as a gauge and conversation starter for potential fans and seasoned fans to interact. I myself (yama) do not identify as “they” or “them” however I do support those within the LBTQ+ communities. Our name Theyamasexuals is meant to sound like they am a sexual as well as holds a deeper meaning. Read more>>

Rebecca “Miss” Malik

Being bicultural has brought about personal challenges as well as self-acceptance. Our society places a huge identity association around race and ethnicity. My mother is Mexican and my father is Pakistani. I was born and raised in Texas. I never considered myself to be different than my peers until they pointed out my differences through intrusive questions and verbal judgments. Those came about as soon as I started kindergarten, and have not ceased to confront me. Read more>>