“I showed up to a space and realized, I had never experienced something like this.”
You can only be who you are in this world; at some point, you must face that reality. Sounds simple enough, but when you’re a gay man and son of immigrants who see living in this country as evidence of sacrifice, being who you are can be challenging, to say the least.
“When I go there and everybody was shopping and doing all these other things, I was like I had no idea because that was never a part of my world.” – Mandoh
My guest today is celebrity stylist Mandoh Melendez. His style is unmistakable, but his road, the one he travels daily being an openly gay Hispanic male is filled with challenges. Today, we’ll discuss growing up in poverty, overcoming drug addictions, the uniqueness of his style, and the daily battles he faces with acceptance.
“I showed up to a space and realized, I had never experienced something like this.” – Mandoh
His story is one of inspiration and persistence that will resonate with you regardless of your sexual orientation. The willingness to be transparent while never missing an opportunity to grow are admirable qualities. They’re also qualities that Mandoh truly embodies while graciously allowing them to shape his life.
“I came out at 21, but I knew I was gay at age 3.” – Mandoh
