FLY London Community Series | Mara Lauren

Mara Lauren is a legally blind, mother, wife, TV reporter, ever-stylish content creator, Filipino-Canadian based in Toronto. 13 years ago she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome, which caused her to lose most of her vision and a gradual loss of hearing. Through these struggles, her bright optimism and positive outlook has kept her smiling and been an inspiration to her community and everyone she meets. Mara has found her voice in disabled advocacy, working with Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) as a support group leader and The Foundation Fighting Blindness. 

Join us as we catch up with Mara and her family — husband Bas and son Bronx — on vacation in Vancouver, where she shows off the latest spring arrivals from Fly London and shares her incredible story. 

Videography by Sean Edwards

Hi Mara, could you give an introduction, where are you from and what you do?

Hi, I’m Mara. A 41-year-old woman from Toronto. I’m also a legally blind mother who has a 6-year-old son. I’m a TV Reporter for Accessible Media Inc., a content creator and an advocate for the disabled community on social media. 

Can you tell us about your story and the journey to get where you are today?

13 years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. A condition that has caused me to lose most of my vision. When you are hit with a life-changing condition, that has absolutely no cure/treatment, you tend to fall into depression and maybe even suicidal. That was me. I was depressed and suicidal during those early dark years. As time went on, you also tend to realize that the only way to really learn to move on was to accept that this is the new life for me. Someone with a rare condition that is causing me to go blind. A few years after finding this out, I also found out that I was also going deaf. A condition called Usher Syndrome. As I tend to continue living, I am also learning to accept the situation I am in. And what do I do? I started to live again. I got married, I travelled and still do, I created a platform to connect and share my own story of my own struggles and built my own community. I tell myself all the time that I am in charge and I am the one that's creating the life I deserve. And I deserve to live. Live a simple and happy life for me. Using my voice and journey in hopes of never making anyone feel what I felt, being alone. I share the good and bad because that is reality and I am human. I’m a legally blind woman just doing the best I can for me. 

When we spoke earlier you talked about seizing the day, treating yourself and utilizing optimism, can you speak about maintaining a positive perspective.

Not everyday is a good day. But we do our best to have that positive perspective in life. Maybe also after the many struggles I have gone through with my disabilities, losing my mom and the many ups and many downs in my life, I do my best to maintain a positive perspective because I owe it to myself to honour my struggles, my journey and what it took to just be alive today. No one knows what it’s like being in my shoes, such as being in yours and the journey it took to wake up today. So why not treat myself, something big or small for able to make it. I think about how far I’ve come in this world and what’s been thrown at me and I am here. Alive. Having a positive perspective is just that push we all need to say, hey you are making it happen! You can overcome this and everything will always be ok. No matter how tough and hard it is to get to where we are. We are here. I am here and I owe it to myself to always celebrate me and the life I am living. So if you want to book that day trip like I did to NYC, do it. Get that bag of chips and enjoy it! Do it! 

What are some of the blindness initiatives or programs you are involved in?

I am a TV Reporter, Toronto Community reporter for AMI-TV. My role is to go around the city and try many events happening and showcase it to the media so that us disabled people can do this and still have fun. Live life. I have done programs and events with the Foundation Fighting Blindness such as Cycle for Sight, and rode a tandem bike for almost 100km and 50 km to raise money for the blind, in hopes of finding a cure for sight. I have also done a fun program with Fighting Blindness America, with their campaign #HowEyeSeeIt, you can find my fun videos on YouTube and showcase what it’s like being blind and doing things in my shoes. 

What would you like to share about blindness that people might not know or understand?

That blindness is a spectrum. That there are only about 2% of the world's population that is completely blind. Many different eye conditions are blindness but somehow, we still see a little bit of something. My eye condition has led me to lose all my peripheral vision in both eyes, and I am living with just my right eye which has 5% vision. And I see just light and outlines in my left eye. That people like me dealing with blindness are able to function and maintain the life that we want. Just because I am blind, it doesn’t mean I can't live or do things. Or I can’t look the way I look or have the life I have. 

Can you speak about your connection to family and what being a mother means to you?

I never imagined being a mother. Especially being a disabled mom, who has a rare condition that can be passed down to my children. But here I am. It is a scary feeling. Sometimes I cry when I accidentally bump my son because I didn’t see him. Or there are just some things I can’t do such as drive him to places and so on. Or how will the future be? Will I go completely blind? It’s a scary feeling but I take it day by day and to be honest, sometimes I do forget that I have this condition and going through my own struggles because my focus is my son. I would do everything and anything for him. And that just because I may be different and disabled, it doesn’t mean I can’t be a wonderful mom. Our connection is insane and he is my best friend. Motherhood is so wild. The rollercoaster ride, it’s so tough but it’s so rewarding. Especially dealing with my disabilities. I am honestly in awe of how I get by but I do because I love my family. 

How would you describe your personal style? And how does style impact your life?

My personal style is just being me, comfy but showing my whole crazy personality. The beauty of style, fashion is that it shows your true self. Your personality alone. I am all for comfort, bold, loud and funky cause I feel like I’m a loud bubbly and definitely “extra” person. I wear what I think is good on me and it doesn’t have to be designer or in trend. I have pieces that are from 20 years ago and if I know I can rock it, why not? It definitely impacts my life because I am all for looking good, feel good but doing it my way. Oversized is my main go to but I can be all girly sexy in some ways but with a twist of maybe baggy pants. It’s how I feel that day and what my crazy self wants. LOL. 

Where do you find style inspiration?

I love looking back at my parent's old pictures. Or the 80’s or 90’s. So funky with the Mary Janes, or sunglasses is my thing as well, so I am all for looking at what my parents had on but doing a twist myself for my own personal style and personality. And if you see me, I rock those big sunnies too and that is my staple to my outfit. A good pair completes my style and it brings me back to my dad’s ray-bans. OOH SO HOT!

What are some of your favourite places to spend a day off in Toronto? Restaurants, coffee shops, stores, parks, venues?

I am all for pizza spots and coffee shops. Good music in the background, and I am good to go. I currently fell in love with 915 Dupont Cafe, the vibe is so good and the coffee too! I’m usually someone who loves a good coffee and treat then hit up somewhere for lunch or dinner. Then walking around Toronto in between, find that good donut as well and be merry. Queen St is a lot easier for me as it’s just a long strip of many stores and very accessible for me. But I also don’t mind commuting and getting to different restaurants or spots cause I am a foodie!

We love your social media presence and photo/video content, what is the message you would like to share with your platform?

My message is to always just be yourself. Never be afraid to show the good and bad because life is real and we need people to be raw, authentic and so we can fully relate to one another. I share my journey, in hopes that you or anyone won’t ever feel alone. We all may not be going through the same things but we are going through things. And we are never alone. It’s good to show this side and be real because we are all humans. It’s not all glam. We are real people going through many different shit. And most importantly, we have a story to tell, our journey is a story and let's all make it inspiring and help one another. 

What drew you to these specific pairs of FLY London shoes? Do you have a favourite pair this season (or from the shoot) and what do you like about them?

Not only were these FLY London shoes so light, stylish and definitely my vibe, but they were also so comfortable. I am all for good quality and comfort. It’s a bonus that it’s also very funky like me. And the white and black Mary Jane's screams to me! I am ready to walk around in my upcoming NYC trip and style those. The Chelsea boots, I feel like I can wear them any time of the year and it will never get old. And my goodness, they were so comfortable too! 

Do you have any shout-outs?

Wow, I get to do a shout-out? I feel so special. LOL. But in all honesty, I really do want to give a shout-out to everyone at Gravitypope who took that bet and gave me a chance. Being disabled and someone like me, not many will bet and give us this chance and opportunity to tell our story. To wear these beautiful things, especially to shine. It’s a cruel world out there when it comes to the disabled people but this is why I am where I am and advocating that I matter. Thankful for each and every one of you who helped me out from the shoot. It is more than a project, it’s a lifetime feeling of gratitude building a connection, a real one. And I honestly can’t forget Bas and Bronx, my husband and son, who make me feel like I am the most beautiful and special person in this world even with everything I am going through. And last, my Angel Momi. My mom was and forever my biggest cheerleader. She knew I was meant to be exactly where I am sharing my story and using my extra self and voice to prove to the world that I matter, that disabled people matter and I am someone so special. I wish she was here witnessing this entire project come to life. I hope I am making her proud.