PASSION MEETS PURPOSE

Fashion photographer Angelea Yoder is the founder of LET THEM STARE, a photography and storytelling project celebrating both visible and invisible differences. Created to challenge perceptions of disability and confront ableism, the project highlights the strength, individuality, and resilience of those often overlooked.

Angelea was born with a rare condition known as VACTERL association (VATER syndrome), an acronym describing a series of congenital differences affecting multiple parts of the body. Throughout her childhood and adolescence, she underwent more than 20 major surgeries, including procedures to address a tethered spinal cord, anorectal malformation, scoliosis, and neurogenic bladder and bowel.

Some parts of her journey were visible—like her scoliosis and petite stature of 4’7”. Others remained unseen, including lifelong bowel management following her birth without an anus. Thanks to pioneering medical advancements such as the Malone appendicostomy procedure, developed by surgeons like Dr. Alberto Pena, individuals with similar conditions have been able to live more independently.

Growing up, Angelea experienced the weight of being stared at—something many people with differences know all too well. While curiosity is human, the reactions to difference can often feel isolating or diminishing. LET THEM STARE was born from a desire to shift that perspective: to replace discomfort with understanding, and judgment with respect.

The project begins with two self-published books.

The children’s book, Look At Me, Look What I Can Do, features children and adolescents across the country with both physical and invisible differences. Each portrait focuses not on limitation, but on what each child loves—highlighting their passions, talents, and joy. The goal is to help all children understand differences from an early age, while ensuring those who live with them feel seen, represented, and never alone. Representation plays a powerful role in mental health, fostering connection, confidence, and resilience.

The second book, Let Them Stare, is a fashion-forward coffee table book featuring 100 adults with diverse differences. Through bold, elevated imagery, it aims to bring true inclusion into the fashion and creative industries—spaces where representation has historically been limited. It is both a celebration and a statement: that difference belongs in every room, every campaign, and every story.

Through LET THEM STARE, Angelea invites others into a new way of seeing, one rooted in dignity, beauty, and truth.

“Your differences don’t define you. There is so much more to who you are—your talents, your kindness, your dreams. We may have to do a little extra every day to thrive, and that’s okay. Don’t ever let that stop you from chasing what you’re meant to do.”