Look.
(GASPS) What?
Hey guys, I'm Ashley Graham, and I am a model, designer, body
activist.
And I am so proud of who I am today
and what I've overcome because it wasn't easy.
And now I get to help people gain the confidence that they
need to take the next step in their life to be totally,
unapologetically, fearless.
This is Ryan.
He's 32 years old and he's wanted to be a singer his whole
life, .
But he struggles with anxiety.
Before a performance, I would get physically ill
because it was just so much to take in.
And it can be scary.
I totally understand.
So today, Total Wireless is helping us help him.
When did you even start singing?
I want to say like 7 years old.
I remember listening to Whitney Houston,
and getting goose bumps for the first time.
That's where I knew like, oh my god, this
is something that I want to do.
What do you find the most difficult thing?
I get anxiety a lot.
It's so intense sometimes, you know.
When did it first start?
Maybe like fifth grade.
And people picked on me a lot, called me a lot of names.
It was a lot of like physical assault.
And the school didn't do anything.
Well the thing is, I never said anything
because I was so scared.
That's why I still have that anxiety.
I'm always afraid of what people are going to think of me.
Are they going to hurt me?
And there were days where I just, I
was like, I'm not going to pursue this
because I can't do it.
But my mom was always so supportive.
I'm very close with my mother too.
She's my best friend, she'll go to all my shows.
My whole family, my sister, my dad, they support me.
I think about all that I've been through,
and they've been with me every step of the way.
Tell me about your mom and what she's going through right now.
Well.
It's OK, take your time, sweetheart.
We found out she has breast cancer.
And it's stage four.
Oh my god.
So it's spread to her bones.
She's there for me always, and I just, I
can't imagine my life without her, you know.
She's so positive about it and I'm.
That's so beautiful.
I try to be positive for her.
It's my mom, you know, I want her to see me succeed, and.
I understand that.
That's when like a lot of the anxiety came back a lot for me.
It's so beautiful to hear you say the anxiety, not
my anxiety.
Because I think a lot of people start
to claim the anxiety as it's their own.
Yeah.
And then they never are able to release it,
and they're giving that thing power.
I never thought of it that way, actually.
It's something that I actively try to get rid of.
I'm working through the anxiety, not my anxiety.
Look at you.
OK, I have one thing that I want to show you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) It's just like a song.
When we were young.
That's me.
(SINGING) It's hard to win me that,
everything just takes me back to when you were there.
He's good.
(SINGING) To when you were there.
It's going to make you cry.
Oh.
Beautiful.
(SINGING) And a part of me keeps holding on.
I want this song on my phone.
(SINGING) Just in case it hasn't gone.
It's incredible.
(SINGING) Because I still care.
Wow, it's beautiful.
(SINGING) Do you still care?
I feel so happy right now.
(SINGING) It was just like a moment.
Holy cow.
I started getting really teary-eyed as soon
as I started listening to it.
He was really good.
That was great.
That was beautiful.
That was so good.
(SINGING) When we were young.
The raw emotion in it is, was just incredible.
What's his name?
Well, who is he?
Go boy, like you got this.
Look.
(GASPS)
We I also got international pop star Ricky
Martin to listen to you sing.
Oh, my god.
Ryan, you're very talented, man.
And if I were you, I wouldn't stop.
You got to keep trying.
It's not easy, there are no shortcuts.
You have to fight, you have to work,
you have to believe in yourself.
And you have a beautiful voice.
I wish you the best.
God bless you.
Oh my god.
That's Ricky Mar-- I--
Ricky.
I, like, She Bangs, Livin' la Vida Loca.
Right?
I can't believe he heard me sing.
I mean he heard you sing, and liked it.
And everyone else too, to me, that means a lot.
But they felt something, you know,
because that's my goal, knowing that you're moving them
in some way, I feel like that's what it's all about.
Well, I think that we should share this moment
with one more person.
Hi.
Oh.
Hi, mom.
I'm so excited for him.
I know he's excited.
I'm so grateful right now, so.
One more surprise.
OK.
[MUSIC PLAYING- THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, "THIS IS ME"]
(VOCALIZING)
You're going to be going to perform on Ellen's stage,
and your mother is going to be sitting in the audience.
Are you serious?
I'm so serious that I just got chills all over my body.
I'm getting nervous, though.
But, now, do you feel like you have the tools,
do you feel like you're ready?
I'm going to go out there and play it, and do the best that I
can for my mom, too, you know.
I'm so glad that she's going to be able to be there
That's once in a lifetime.
(SINGING) Everybody loves the things you do.
I am so happy for Ryan.
He got it, he understood not claiming the anxiety.
And I'm glad that he is living his best life right now,
and it's because of his mom.
(SINGING) Made us restless.
I'm so mad I'm getting old it makes me reckless.
It was just like a moment.
This raised my confidence tenfold.
And I feel like I'm doing something right which
is a good feeling to have.
(SINGING) When we were young.
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
I love you, mom.
Thank you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]