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Chella ManAsian-American actor, model, artist, YouTuber and LGBTQ activist
Date of Birth: 26.11.1998
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Asian American Actor and LGBTQ+ Activist
- Early Life and Gender Dysphoria
- Deafness and Cochlear Implants
- Transition and Personal Journey
- Education and YouTube Career
- Modeling and Representation
- Breakthrough Role as Jericho
- Activism and Advocacy
- Art and Fashion
- Short Film and Personal Exploration
Asian American Actor and LGBTQ+ Activist
Chella Man is an Asian American actor, model, artist, YouTuber, and LGBTQ+ activist. He has become known for sharing his experiences as a transgender, deaf, genderqueer, Asian, and Jewish person of color.
Early Life and Gender Dysphoria
Chella Man was born on November 26, 1998, of Jewish-Chinese descent. Raised in a small town in conservative central Pennsylvania, he "never felt beautiful." Assigned female at birth, Chella Man experienced gender dysphoria throughout his childhood.
Deafness and Cochlear Implants
Chella Man began losing his hearing at the age of four. By age 13, he had become completely deaf and received his first cochlear implant the following year. At 16, a second implant was inserted in his other ear.
Transition and Personal Journey
In 2017, Chella Man began transitioning with testosterone after experiencing gender dysphoria throughout his childhood. His use of masculinizing hormone therapy, along with surgeries, helped him with his identity, self-esteem, and body image.
Education and YouTube Career
Chella Man is currently studying virtual reality programming at The New School in Manhattan. In March 2017, he started his YouTube channel, where he posts videos about his personal experiences with gender dysphoria, his identity, his personal life, and videos translating popular songs into American Sign Language.
Modeling and Representation
In September 2018, Chella Man signed with IMG as their first deaf, Jewish-Asian model. He has modeled for magazines such as The Advocate, Bad Hombre, Time Out, Dazed, Gay Times, and Mission, and for brands like Calvin Klein, Gap, and American Eagle.
Breakthrough Role as Jericho
In March 2019, it was announced that Chella Man would debut as Jericho, a deaf vigilante, in season two of the DC Universe's digital series "Titans." Chella Man has stated that he relates to the character, who uses sign language to communicate.
Activism and Advocacy
Chella Man advocates for the importance of disabled actors playing disabled characters to promote proper representation. He has discussed and worked alongside fellow disabled activist Judith Heumann and queer activist Jillian Mercado.
Art and Fashion
Chella Man enjoys painting, tattooing, and fashion design. He has described how he draws inspiration from "everything I come across that I find visually pleasing. That could be a Picasso at MoMA or a polka dot hat on the New York City subway."
Short Film and Personal Exploration
In March 2023, Chella Man released the short film "The Device That Turned Me Into a Cyborg Was Born the Same Year I Was," exploring his complex relationship with his cochlear implant and his identity between the deaf and hearing worlds.
