Don't seek joy by proving yourself to others. Seek joy by proving yourself that you're worthy and that you're capable and that you can make it an impact in your own life.
Casley Vang
Joy of Being Featured Storyteller
Casely Vang is a Hmong transgender woman, professional makeup artist, hairstylist, and community advocate based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The youngest of ten children, Casely grew up surrounded by a large family whose resilience and determination helped shape her own ambitions. She began her transition at 17 and pursued her love of music and performance through theater, singing, and Broadway auditions. She later entered international pageantry, representing the Hmong transgender community and using her growing visibility to encourage others to pursue their dreams.
Through her platform, Build Me Beautiful, Casely advocates for mental health, self-love, and the importance of finding beauty from within. Inspired by her father's legacy of service and the support of family, friends, and community, she believes that personal stories can create meaningful connections and encourage positive change. Her guiding message, “Every Relatable Story is a Helping Hand,” reflects her commitment to helping others recognize their worth, embrace their identities, and build lives grounded in purpose and joy.
Podcast
Build Me Beautiful
Finding beauty from within, honoring the journey, and creating a life of purpose.
Casely Vang, a Hmong transgender woman, beauty professional, and community advocate, shares her journey of self-discovery, navigating cultural expectations, and finding strength through family, creativity, and personal resilience. Through stories of her transition, relationships, and her father's lasting influence, Casely reflects on how she learned to define beauty and self-worth on her own terms. She also shares the purpose behind Build Me Beautiful, her platform dedicated to mental health, self-love, and the belief that every personal story has the power to help someone else.
Portraits
There are so many different beauties in this world and you can be beautiful if you are just who you are and you just have a good heart.
I am worthy regardless if a guy tells me that I'm beautiful. I'm beautiful because I am beautiful from within and out.
Don't think that you have to win all the time. And learn that the win is the process of getting there.
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, MN State Arts Board GEneral Operating Program, and the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council. Additional thanks to the McKnight Foundation who has continually supported arts learning and professional development opportunities for artists in Saint Paul and Crookston Minnesota.