If you've sanded down your edges to fit in, it's time to bring them back -- there's power, value and beauty there, says Crystal Rasmussen. With candor and humility, Rasmussen shares their experience navigating shame, how it manifests in ourselves and the world and the ways drag revealed a path toward self-love and acceptance. A talk for anyone struggling with becoming exactly who they're meant to be -- and a reminder that it's rarely easy but always worth it.

Crystal Rasmussen: A queer journey from shame to self-love

A queer journey from shame to self-love

Embracing drag unveiled a pathway to self-love, challenging the deep-seated shame born from societal judgments and violence.

The journey from shame to self-acceptance involves confronting and reimagining shame as a universal burden, not a personal flaw.

Safe expression of identity is crucial; it's not about universal acceptance but the freedom to live authentically without fear.