What if pretending wasn’t just for kids? In this bold, electrifying TEDx talk, drag performer and therapist Journee LaFond (they/she) invites you to rediscover the transformative power of play. From their mother’s beauty rituals to meeting a drag queen who shattered their world open, Journee weaves personal storytelling with social science to challenge everything you think you know about identity, performance, and becoming.
This isn’t just about wigs and sequins—it’s about liberation. It’s about showing up as your fullest self. It’s about you. If you’ve ever wanted to break free, to grow, or to live more honestly—this talk just might change how you see yourself forever. Journee (they/she) is a social worker, voiceover actor, drag performer, model, event organizer, and restorative justice advocate. Passionate about creating spaces for historically marginalized communities, they are dedicated to redefining mental health, Queerness, and what it means to be a Person of the Global Majority. As their drag persona, Onyx Reigns, Journee was honored to be canonized by the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as the Saint of the Onyx Journey. Journee works to create safe spaces for Queer folx and People of Color in New Hampshire, aiming to eradicate stigma and promote equity for marginalized groups. They live in Southern New Hampshire with their spouse and two children. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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