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‘Cosmopolitan’ Interview with Kristin Bartzokis

One thing we at KiCam cherish about our authors is their ability to be open and authentic in sharing their stories. No matter how painful their pasts, our authors tell the unvarnished truth, showing their strength, determination, and often a great sense of humor!

All of those characteristics are on display in Diary of a Beautiful Disaster author Kristin Bartzokis’s interview with Cosmopolitan

Kristin, who has Treacher Collins syndrome, has never looked like everyone else. She’s had numerous surgeries to reconstruct her face, and she wears a hearing aid.

In her interview, she addresses what it’s like to look and feel different and to deal with others’ reactions, which range from simple questions to gawking and pointing.

“I know everyone has those up and down moments,” Kristin says, “but there are times where I’m like, ‘I’m so over this. I just want to look like everybody else. I don’t want to stand out, I just want to be able to walk through the mall or do my grocery shopping and just kind of blend in.’ ”

Nevertheless, Kristin has embraced her role as an advocate for people with physical differences, and she’s embracing herself, as well, by celebrating the strength, courage, and drive that have made her a successful gymnast, marathon runner, and creative professional.

Read the full interview here.