The Faces of Illness

Hi, my name is Cheri Sotelo and I am the founder of The Psych Series and The Faces of Illness.

In 2022, Cheri Sotelo embarked on this journey to give a face of beauty to the sadness created by pain and hopelessness. These conditions that plague the bodies that we are given would not necessarily come solely from the lifestyle choices that we make. So, through this project, and the accompanying book, The Face of Illness, Cheri uncovers the various paths to navigating chronic conditions and self-care in the most gentle and perhaps most cost conscious way. Suffering is a universal human condition. Let's choose to contribute towards adding beauty to the world and by freezing that moment in time in a portrait.

THESE ARE THE FACES OF ILLNESS. THIS PROJECT WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY CHERI SOTELO AND BRILLIANTLY PHOTOGRAPHED BY JASON HARPER TO SHOWCASE WHAT THE IT CAN LOOK LIKE TO BE FEARLESS THROUGH PAIN. THE MASTERFUL CHRIStopher MONTOYA INDULGED IN THE ULTIMATE GLAM MAKEOVER FOR EACH OF THESE BADASS BEAUTIES TO REMIND THEM THAT THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT OF ILLNESS DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN THAT IT COMES WITH DREARY FACES AND HUMBLED HAIR.

"NO LONGER SHOULD WE VIEW THE FACE OF ILLNESS UNDER THE DARK AND GRIM LIGHT OF DESPAIR, HIDDEN BEHIND A BARRAGE OF SYMPTOMS. LET'S DRAW BACK THE CURTAINS AND GIVE THE AUDIENCE SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR: HOPE, SASS, AND A LITTLE BIT OF BADASS. CHRONIC, RARE AND TERMINAL ILLNESS IS WHAT THESE BEAUTIES WILL SHARE WITH YOU. SIT BACK AND ENJOY THEIR WORDS AND TRANSFORMATIONS AS WE IMMORTALIZE THEM FOR THE PHOTO ART SERIES, THE FACES OF ILLNESS: BADASS BEAUTIES VOL I."

This fundraiser event will support making a documentary to gather 10 individuals that suffer physically and emotionally under their diagnoses of medical conditions. It has been my mission to gather data for the public as a reference and generate a support system through the emotional turmoil of illnesses. The Faces of Illness takes individuals and provides them a full glamor makeover with celebrity makeup and hair artist, Christopher Montoya. Then they will receive a one-of-a-kind professional photoshoot with entertainment photographer Jason Harper. These images will be compiled in The Faces of Illness: Making Every Minute Count Vol II.

It is an exciting time as this compilation of events will be made into an expository documentary directed by Lucas Harper of DLH Media.

The goal is to change the community perspective of Illness. We have all been touched with Illness worldwide and its time to come together and provide a framework of hope and resilience like we have never seen documented before now.

The Faces of Illness: Badass Beauties Vol I is available to view on Instagram @the_face_of_illness and can be purchased on Amazon in hardback or paperback. All proceeds continue to fund more amazing people in our community and allows them to hold onto the smiles for a lifetime.

Please join me in contributing to a new global wellness system that embraces Illness and offers a change of outlooks for a lifetime.

Please read more about The Faces of Illness at www.TheFaceOfIllness.com

To learn more about me, please visit Instagram @thepsychseries or on www.ThePsychSeries.com and heal.me/thepsychseries.

Please consider helping fund The Faces of Illness: Making Every Minute Count Vol II

I have committed to making a documentary of this monumental experience with DLH Media director Lucas Harper.

Many of you know the hard topics and passion I have for creating a peace of mind for those that suffer through the pain of their illnesses.

Note: I am not allocating any funds for personal use or personal gain. Transparency is my primary practice. I will disclose the a statement if disbursement with each vendor payment.

Currently the budget calls for hair and makeup, photography, location acquisition, travel to the participants hometowns to interview them and their families, transportation and lodging for the book photoshoot, and the production cost for the documentary plus advertising. No salaries are allowed for me or any volunteer assistants.

Thank you for your contribution to bringing smiles back into the lives of our loved ones and their beloved families.

Humblest regards,

Cheri L Sotelo