"As a disabled and chronically ill person, this campaign is more than just makeup and glam to me."
When Celine Dion made her disability diagnosis public, many of us wondered what would come of our beloved icon's career and condition -- and not just because she's a fantastic artist and performer, but because she has simply never stopped bringing the vibes to any and every circle she finds herself in.
And while her life has changed tremendously, that part hasn't shifted a bit. Yesterday, Charlotte Tilbury just announced its 2025 Holiday Campaign, starring none other than our girl.
In the promotional video, she returns to the spotlight to perform her vibrant and apropos anthem "I'm Alive." And while the brand does fun collabs all the time, this one feels especially momentous. Dion "embodies everything I believe in - resilience, determination, and the power to transform lives," Tilbury herself said regarding the collaboration.
As a disabled and chronically ill person, this campaign is more than just makeup and glam to me. In Celine Dion's documentary, "I Am: Celine Dion," she showcases what it means to go from global stardom to someone who has to suddenly deal with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). The disorder attacks the nervous system which affects the muscles and tendons making singing almost impossible.
I learned that after releasing 27 albums and selling 250 million records, Dion had to cancel her concert residency in Las Vegas. In her documentary, she says, "I went to the studio and I knew they wanted Celine Dion." She starts to cry and asks, "Who is Celine Dion?"
That question is all too relatable for people with chronic illness. As someone who was once healthy running around New York City doing comedy shows every night, to then getting COVID and being in the hospital for six months -- and now on oxygen 24/7 -- I too question who I am. In fact, I question my sense of self every minute of every day. And I don't even have a Grammy (yet).
In one part of the documentary, as Dion shows the camera crew her warehouse of archival fashions, you can see her aching for both her old life, her vocal stamina, and a previous version of her body. She simply isn't able to do what she's done onstage for her whole life.
I know this feeling well. I remember lying to my doctor when she asked if I could stand while brushing my teeth without coughing. I remember once having an 8-hour coughing fit after pretending I was fine on the phone catching up with a friend. Both of us, in some way, are facing a new reality based on our circumstances. Like Celine says in the documentary, "The lie is too heavy now."
Dion has compared herself to an apple tree who now produces less fruit because of her condition. "I don't want [my audience] to wait in line if I don't have apples for them," she said. That resonated with me; as chronically ill creatives, we sometimes feel useless if we can't use our gifts to connect with others.
Still, she persisted. A month after her documentary was released, Dion sang on one of the biggest stages in the world at the 2024 Olympics in France. And I'm finding the power to persist, too.
Dion's tenacity gives us chronically ill baddies hope that our spasms and seizures can co-exist with our joy and talent. And this campaign is a quietly powerful statement about our value as disabled people. We might need our meds, treatment and community, but we love feeling beautiful and powerful, too. And sometimes a little highlighter can help.
"I've always believed music and beauty can uplift and inspire confidence. Having my song 'I'm Alive' as the soundtrack felt like a true celebration of resilience and joy," Dion said in a press release for the brand. "I hope this campaign reminds everyone that confidence is the greatest gift you can give yourself -- because when you feel alive and empowered, anything is possible."