Jearlean Taylor

Jearlean Alston-Taylor was born and raised in Southwest Baltimore, MD, where she grew up in a happy home with five siblings. Her parents could never have imagined that one of their twin daughters would develop rhabdomysarcoma, a rare form of cancer, at 2 years old. Her parents were told not to expect Jerlean to live past the age of 3, however, they were also advised to seek other opinions at other hospitals that specialize in rhabdomysarcoma.

Jerlean wound up receiving successful chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Her childhood included several reconstructive surgeries, lengthy hospital stays and ongoing medical issus. As a result of the cancer, she was forced to have two ostomy bags for the rest of her life.

Jearlean's life has been a journey of unexpected challenges, throughout which she has endured low self-esteem, shame, insecurity and severe medical complications. Jearlean’s insecurities did not change over night, but she has learned to be a survivor. As a result of her struggles, journal writing has been the source of her internal healing. Her book, "Pretty Girl Blues: An Autobiography" is an intimate journey into Jearlean's life of being a survivor. Her obstacles have made her strong — and the adversities she has overcome have allowed her to inspire, encourage, uplift, understand and spread her testimony abroad.