Meet Stella Miller

We recently connected with Stella Miller and have shared our conversation below.

Stella, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I firmly believe everyone is different, we all have different goals and values in life. By sharing my story, I can inspire others that it’s okay to not be perfect and that everyone is unique and beautiful in their own ways. We all hold different strengths which makes us all flawless together.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My goal is to inspire others with my story. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis 3 years ago, Basketball and Volleyball were my whole identity. When I found out I couldn’t play sports anymore due to side effects from medication, I was devastated. The first medication I was prescribed is called Methotrexate. It is a chemotherapy drug, that caused fatigue, hair thinning, and severe dietary changes such as only being able to eat cold food. The second medication I was prescribed is called Humira, I absolutely loved this medication but unfortunately the effects wore off. I am currently taking Orencia which is also an immunosuppressive drug. Through my arthritis journey, my goal is to advocate for those living with chronic illnesses and show the whole world that a new door opens when one closes. For me, mine was modeling. I started modeling 2 years ago, this was a risk for me as I was unsure of the industry and what I was getting into. I absolutely love modeling and I am proud to call it my job!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t want to tell anyone. When I started missing a lot of school for doctors appointments, flare-ups, or coming in late the morning after I receive my injection, my peers started asking why I wasn’t in school. I was unsure what people would think, if they were going to make fun of me or treat me differently. One of the qualities that helped me was being brave, as soon as I started speaking about my arthritis journey, most people took it as more of an influential story. One girl from my English class at the time was just diagnosed with lupus and asked me about how I manage school and my chronic illness, this helped me gain the skill of impaction. Lastly, another skill I found was positivity, you never know what someone is going through so it is always important to be kind, by looking at me you would never know I have Arthritis and that can be challenging at times with ‘invisible illnesses.’ Some advice I would give folks who are early in their journey is, it’s ok to not be ok, nobody is perfect and that’s what makes us all unique.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I think it is important to be more well rounded and invest effort into our weaknesses. By investing into our weaknesses, this can help our strengths in hidden ways. I believe the more skills someone can obtain, the more successful at life someone will be. It is challenging to overcome weaknesses, but in the end, it is worth the outcome.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Sullivan Blue Co.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,