Jessie Cheng

Stories of Inspiring Joy

Passionate about global entertainment and the intersection of artistry and mental health, Jessie Cheng left California’s Bay Area for Boston in pursuit of her studies in marketing and applied psychology. Her marketing experience has allowed Cheng to work directly with musical talent, thereby strengthening her dedication to creating a culture of empathy through creative storytelling. As a Chinese American woman, Cheng hopes to advance a new, diverse narrative on mental health and in penning her debut novel, Unglamored, has sparked a conversation about eating disorders within Asian communities and the entertainment industry. When not busy writing, Cheng can often be found competitively playing card games with friends or performing two a.m. solo concerts in front of her mirror.

In today’s episode Jessie shares her passion for music and the inspiration behind her book, Unglamored. As Jessie shares, what we often see on the outside is not always what goes on behind the scenes. The truth is beauty standards are unrealistic and the media distorts, everything. Jessie vulnerably opens up about her struggles with disordered eating, body dysmorphia, and an eating disorder. As Jessie shares, our struggles are valid and can be confronted. your story matters and even your pain can be turned into something that positively impacts others and changes lives. Today, it’s her hope that with her book Unglamored she can help build a culture of empathy between us and those in the public eye, and to encourage all of us to be compassionate with ourselves and others.

To connect with Jessie and learn more visit her website www.jessiejmcheng.com and @jessiejmcheng on Instagram and via email at [e-mail]

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.