Editor’s note: It is with very heavy hearts that we report our friend Talia Castellano died on July 16, 2013. On her official Facebook page Angels for Talia, she recently said she most wanted to be remembered as “the bubbly girl who wanted to do something about childhood cancer.” She did that and so much more. We were lucky enough to meet Talia just before Hollywood came calling. She told us it was her dream to show off her make-up skills on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and just days after our interview, that’s exactly what she did, becoming an official Cover Girl in the process and working the red carpet for Ellen. With her million-dollar smile, positive attitude and infectious joy for life, Talia leaves a legacy that will live on forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and to all the Angels for Talia around the world who loved her. This story was produced in the sumer of 2012.
Talia Castellano is 13 years and she has spent more than half of her young life battling cancer.
She was first diagnosed at age 7 with stage IV neuroblastoma. She has beat the cancer into remission three times through radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and stem-cell transplants, only to have it return every time.
She recently learned the cancer has spread to her bone marrow and she has a second cancer — preleukemia.
Like many cancer patients, Talia turned to wigs when she started losing her hair. But she says the wigs made her feel less like herself.
Then discovered the magic of makeup and she says she began using makeup as her wig.
After devouring books, videos and advice from experts, she quickly became an expert herself. She launched her own YouTube channel, where she reviews products and produces tutorials, even reporting from her hospital bed. Today, she has millions of fans around the world and is changing the face of pediatric cancer.
Find out how this extraordinary young lady is dealing with some very adult decisions and how she’s dedicating herself to two big missions — increasing funding for pediatric cancer research and getting on the Ellen show!
September is Pediatric Cancer Month, and Talia wants you to know just how desperate the fight is to save the lives of thousands of children. Your help is needed in this life-saving battle.
***Talia Update*** Two days after we posted our story, Talia was contacted by producers for the Ellen Show. Talia was flown to LA to appear on the show and Ellen made her an honorary Cover Girl, gave her a huge supple of Cover Girl Makeup, a check for $20,000 and asked her to interview celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Beiber and more at IHeartRadio in Las Vegas.
To see more from Talia, check out: