Watch Chella Man read a moving letter to his future self

“Dear Future Chella,” opens a 2019 letter from Chella Man to his future self. “You’ve probably gotten top surgery by now. Fuck.”

Standing shirtless against a pale pink backdrop, the actor and activist is reciting his moving letter for the latest episode of the Dazed Texts series (filmed last year), reflecting on the freedom that would soon come from his surgery.

“You probably smooth your hands down from your chest to watch your shirt fall flat,” he continues. “You probably get out of the shower and wrap the towel around your waist, not your chest. Hopefully, you stand taller. Head held higher.”

“Please stay humble in your skin,” Man concludes, “and enjoy being free.”

In recent years, Man has been making history as a trans activist, artist, and model. At the age of 17, he became the first trans masculilne and Deaf person to sign with IMG Models, before making history again last year as the first trans masculine actor to be cast in a DC superhero series.

Speaking to Dazed last year, Man said: “The discrimination I face as a Deaf, Jewish, genderqueer, trans, masculine person of colour powers my work.” This was true of his 2019 collection for Opening Ceremony, which he ensured was radically inclusive. “I wanted to showcase the fact that living outside binaries, categories, and labels is not just possible – you can do it and thrive,” he said at the time.

Man’s rendition of his letter is part of Dazed’s partnership with #TOGETHERBAND, a campaign raising awareness for the UN’s crucial global goals, 17 targets that range from promoting gender equality to working toward greater sustainability, with the aim to make the world a better place by 2030. This edition of Dazed Texts focuses on ‘reduced inequalities’, an aim which aims to diminish inequality within and among countries across the world.

Previous Dazed Texts have featured Maisie Williams delivering a passionate plea to save the climate, using the words of the Green New Deal, and JPEGMAFIA’s take on Ray Charles’ “Busted” in a rousing reflection on world poverty.

Watch Man’s performance above.

Performed by Chella Man

Directed by Bec Evans

Produced by Georgia Rose 

Edited by Georgie Daley

Make-up by Paula Vinueza

Hair by Netty Jordan

Gaffer Travis Tomilson

Lighting by Tim Farrel

Sound recordist Paul Gibek

Autocue operator John Kukura

PA Rich Buchanan