Ideas worth spreading

A queer journey from shame to self-love

1,628,922 views | Crystal Rasmussen • TEDxLondonWomen

If you've sanded down your edges to fit in, it's time to bring them back -- there's power, value and beauty there, says Crystal Rasmussen. With candor and humility, Rasmussen shares their experience navigating shame, how it manifests in ourselves and the world and the ways drag revealed a path toward self-love and acceptance. A talk for anyone struggling with becoming exactly who they're meant to be -- and a reminder that it's rarely easy but always worth it.

If you've sanded down your edges to fit in, it's time to bring them back -- there's power, value and beauty there, says Crystal Rasmussen. With candor and humility, Rasmussen shares their experience navigating shame, how it manifests in ourselves and the world and the ways drag revealed a path toward self-love and acceptance. A talk for anyone struggling with becoming exactly who they're meant to be -- and a reminder that it's rarely easy but always worth it.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxLondonWomen, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

About the speaker

Crystal Rasmussen

Author, singer and drag artist

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Crystal, also known as Tom, Rasmussen grew up working class in North West England, where they learned the art of drag from the legendary women who raised them.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxLondonWomen, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.