[4] Findlay makes use of social media to document her love of fashion, food, as well as the treatment and ableism she faces because she has ichthyosis, a genetic disorder that affects her skin and hair.
[6] Findlay's parents courted illegally for four years in South Africa during the Apartheid and moved to Australia in order to marry in 1981.
[7][8][9] Findlay was born on 8 December 1981 in Albury, New South Wales, three weeks premature and was diagnosed with a form of the genetic disease ichthyosis: congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma.
][13] Findlay attended Murray High School in Albury and, during her final year, started working at a local Kmart department store.
She moved to Melbourne in 2003 to work for the Australian Public Service and completed her Masters of Communication from RMIT University from 2005 to 2012.
From February 2003 to November 2017, Findlay was employed by the Australian Tax Department[17] and from September 2016 to May 2017, held the position of Communication Coordinator for People with Disability Australia Inc.[16][self-published source?]
The drivers in questions refused to transport Findlay, making comments on her appearance, alleged intoxication, and smell, and claiming she would damage their vehicle.
[20] Findlay has had a number of speaking gigs, both individually and as a part of event panels including Women of Letters, opening for Julia Gillard at Layne Beachley's Women in Leadership luncheon, Progress 2017, University of Western England, ProBlogger, Melbourne Writers Festival, Emerging Writers Festival, Dangerous Ideas around Disability and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
[26] During the interview, the host Jon Faine described Findlay as looking like a “burns victim” and having a face that wouldn't “be good at Halloween”, before asking about her sex life.
[30][31] Findlay is currently employed in the role of Access and Inclusion Coordinator for the Melbourne Fringe Festival one day a week as well as providing customised disability awareness, social media and blogging training to organisations.
Findlay has written for a variety of online and traditional media, including the ABC, SBS, Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, The Age, Essential Baby, Kidspot, Ravishly, Frankie Magazine, and Mamamia.
[1][2][38] Her writing also appears in anthologies - Growing Up African in Australia (edited by Maxine Beneba Clarke), Women of a Certain Rage, and Me Too - Stories from the Australian Movement; as well as in Bec Sparrow's Ask Me Anything and Tara Moss' Speaking Out.
[39] A common theme of Findlay's work is the importance of representation of people of diverse appearance in the media, fashion, and general life.
][42] and her blog, using them as a platform to promote her brand, her love of fashion, ableism and the treatment and pain she experiences in association with her condition.
I've been the hero of my story - telling it on my own terms, proud about my facial difference and disability, not wanting a cure for my rare, severe and sometimes confronting skin condition, and knowing that I am beautiful even though I don't have beauty privilege.”[21] The right to privacy for both children and adults with disability is an important facet of Findlay's writing.
And 'disabled' and 'disability' are not bad words.”[5] Findlay says that she did not identify as having a disability until her mid-twenties, but doing so has given her a platform on which to build her brand, a sense of confidence and a community.
I am proud to belong to an amazing, talented, diverse, passionate community that's committed to selflessly improving the lives of others.”[citation needed] After receiving five publication offers, on 3 July 2017, Findlay signed a book deal with Harper Collins.
It includes interviews with prominent Australians such as Senator Jordon Steele-John and Paralympian Isis Holt, poetry and graphic art, as well as more than 40 original pieces by writers with a disability or chronic illness.