How Anna Montaldo Went From A High School Student To A Full-tim…
Olivia Murphy
When you’re close to graduating high school, you are encouraged to go to college. College is not for everyone, and there are other options. When she was a junior going into her senior year of high school, she knew she did not want to go off to college and instead build her brand. I was lucky enough to have talked to her about the creation of CP Life.
What is your specific disability, and how does it affect you?
Anna: I have spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy which affects all four limbs physically. I use a walker to get around. Additionally, I have a small speech impairment!
Did you always want to start a disability brand? Why or why not?
Anna: I had zero intention of starting a disability brand. It was not, I didn’t want to. I just didn’t know it would turn into what it did today. Anna created CP Life in the summer of 2017 for her family to keep up with what she was doing in life. Later after many misconceptions about her disability, CP Life became an effort to show those with and without disabilities that living with a disability doesn’t have to be limiting!
What are some challenges that you faced creating CP life?
Anna: Finding the right way to brand it, making appealing content people like!
Can you explain the premise of your disability brand?
Anna: The premise of the brand is to show those with and without disabilities that living with a disability doesn’t have to be limiting!
Who are some disabled influencers you admire and have gotten inspired by?
Anna: Common ground society, Tina B, and Rollettes LA are some disability influencers that inspire me. I would describe them as pioneers in the disability community advocating for change.
Do you think having your brand has helped you with self-love and self-acceptance regarding your disability? If so, how?
Anna: No, I don’t think having my brand has helped me with self-love and self-acceptance in terms of my disability as I already accepted the disability factor in my life prior to my brand but it has helped me go deeper into my love journey did the help of boundless babe society a women’s empowerment group for women with disabilities.
What is the most helpful advice when creating a social media brand?
Anna: The best advice ever received is to have multiple platforms.
Anna took that advice to heart. She’s made quite the social media presence for CP Life across platforms. Over the past five years, CP life has acquired over 900 subscribers on YouTube, over a thousand followers on Instagram, and over 2000 followers on TikTok. CP Life content ranges from disability life hacks, how-to videos, travel vlogs, and Q&As (question & answer). All with the hope of normalizing what it is like to be disabled. If you are interested in hearing more about the evolution of Anna’s brand CP Life look out next week for her episode of Living my Best Disabled Life.
Until next time,
Liv
