Shaun Ross - The Power of Being Unapologetically Yourself
Model, musician, DJ, and creative force Shaun Ross joins Artivism for a powerful conversation about identity, authenticity, and what it takes to remain true to yourself in a world that constantly pressures us to conform.
Growing up as a Black queer kid with albinism in the Bronx, Shaun learned early what it meant to be different. Rather than shrinking himself to fit other people's expectations, he chose to embrace the very qualities that made him stand out. That decision would eventually help him break barriers in fashion, build a global career, and evolve into a multidisciplinary artist on his own terms.
We discuss the realities of visibility, navigating industries built on approval, surviving criticism and rejection, recovering from long COVID, healing after heartbreak, and the ongoing journey of becoming more fully yourself.
At its core, this conversation is about self-acceptance, resilience, and the radical act of refusing to assimilate.
If you've ever felt different, misunderstood, or pressured to become someone else to succeed, this episode is for you.
Growing up as a Black queer kid with albinism in the Bronx, Shaun learned early what it meant to be different. Rather than shrinking himself to fit other people's expectations, he chose to embrace the very qualities that made him stand out. That decision would eventually help him break barriers in fashion, build a global career, and evolve into a multidisciplinary artist on his own terms.
We discuss the realities of visibility, navigating industries built on approval, surviving criticism and rejection, recovering from long COVID, healing after heartbreak, and the ongoing journey of becoming more fully yourself.
At its core, this conversation is about self-acceptance, resilience, and the radical act of refusing to assimilate.
If you've ever felt different, misunderstood, or pressured to become someone else to succeed, this episode is for you.
Creators and Guests
Host
Iman Jordan
Iman Jordan is a 2025 Grammy Award–winning artist, songwriter, and cultural organizer whose work bridges soul, pop, and alternative R&B with social consciousness and emotional depth. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Jordan received the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change honor for “Deliver,” and has written for artists including Rihanna (“Desperado”), Jazmine Sullivan, and Alicia Keys, with music featured across major film, television, and cultural platforms. Jordan is also the founder of The ArtWell Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to healing the artist through community, wellness-centered songwriting retreats, and The Artivism Podcast, which explores creativity as a tool for liberation and social change.
Designer
Carlos Anthony Lopez
Carlos Anthony Lopez is a self-taught designer, builder, and production designer based in Los Angeles and the creative force behind Winston Studios, where he transforms interior, exterior, and set environments through hands-on fabrication and visual storytelling. His work spans celebrated LA hospitality spaces, major brands, Coachella stages for artists including Lizzo and Jon Batiste, and community initiatives that fuse design, culture, and civic impact.
Guest
Shaun Ross
Shaun Ross is a groundbreaking model, musician, DJ, and multidisciplinary artist who became one of the first male models with albinism to achieve international recognition, working with leading fashion houses and appearing in publications including GQ, Vogue, and i-D. Born and raised in the Bronx, Ross has built a career defined by challenging beauty standards, embracing individuality, and expanding representation across fashion, music, and culture. Today, he continues to evolve as a recording artist and creative force, using his platform to explore identity, self-expression, healing, and the power of living authentically.
Producer
Winston Studios
Winston Studios is a creative agency based in Los Angeles. We’re masters in our craft, focusing on interior/exterior space design, art direction, set design and stage scenic. As visual storytellers, we transform spaces through our unique experience in conceptualization, fabrication, and artisanal design in order to transform each unique project into an elevated visual experience.
