Self-Acceptance: The Best of the Best, Online
More than 50 people entered Speaker Slam®'s Self-Acceptance competition, and on April 21, 2021 the Top 10 met in the online finals to share stories about making peace with who they are.
Speaker Slam® had moved online, and co-founder Rina Rovinelli said she felt proud of the change. In the days before the finals she wrote that the competitors were still brilliant and inspiring, the audiences still loving and engaged, and that the online stage now welcomed speakers from all around the world.
1st Place: Lindsay Rae D'Ottavio
Body Image Activist
Lindsay, a boudoir photographer who has photographed nearly 600 women, spoke about the "ifs" that keep people from seeing their own beauty, including the ones she heard from her own father growing up. Her speech went on to win Best of Show and Gold W3 Awards and a 2022 Anthem Award from the Webbys.
2nd Place: Ken Hall
Comedic Actor, Instructor, Career/Life Coach
Ken opened by apologizing, then explained why: for years he had apologized for simply being himself. Standing four foot seven and three quarters with major scoliosis, he took the audience back to the conversation he dreaded having with every new gym teacher at the start of each school year. Ken is a Toronto-based actor and an instructor at The Second City and The Bad Dog Theatre.
3rd Place: Daniel Burns
Daniel spoke openly about the tummy tuck he had hoped would make everything perfect, and the shame and depression that sat down beside him while he recovered. He admitted it felt vulnerable to say the words on stage at all.
Meet the Judges Who Made It All Happen
- Jay Wong, CEO of Podcast Your Brand, Host of The Inner Changemaker, Real Estate Investor
- Leigh Mitchell, Brand Strategist, founder of Bee Happy HR Co. and Women in Biz Network
- Quinn Conyers, speaking trainer and host of the Speak Black Woman podcast
Prizes donated included a one-hour VIP Marketing Momentum mentoring session with Jay Wong and two 50% discounts on the Podcast Your Brand Accelerator.
Meet the full lineup in Meet the Speakers for Self-Acceptance 2021 and the panel in Meet Your Judges for Self-Acceptance 2021.