In a heartwarming and uplifting gesture, renowned American cosmetics brand e.l.f. Beauty recently announced its partnership with Paralympic swimmer Anastasia ‘Tas’ Pagonis to empower beauty accessibility for the visually impaired community in 2024. This implausible collaboration emphasizes the brand’s dedication to inclusivity and shines a spotlight on the three-time world champion’s unwavering determination and heartfelt advocacy for the visually impaired community. Together, they’re embarking on a noble quest to revolutionize the beauty industry, ensuring it becomes more welcoming and embracing while illuminating beauty paths for those often left unheeded.
Anastasia Pagonis’s journey is one of resilience and triumph over adversity. Diagnosed with autoimmune retinopathy at 11, her vision deteriorated rapidly, and by 14, she was living in darkness. Yet, her spirit remained unbroken. At the tender age of 11, she was confronted with the devastating diagnosis of autoimmune retinopathy, witnessing her vision fade swiftly. By the time she turned 14, she found herself engulfed in darkness. However, her spirit refused to yield to despair. Remarkably, at 17, she etched her name into the annals of history at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. She shattered records and ascended to victory there, claiming the coveted gold medal in the women’s 400-meter freestyle S11 event. Her journey is a testament to the unwavering strength of determination and the indomitable resilience of the human spirit.
Together, e.l.f. and Pagonis embark on an odyssey, a sacred quest to illuminate the path of beauty for those whose eyes seek solace in their embrace.
Pagonis, a shining example of fortitude, has navigated the shadows since her earliest days, her inner light undimmed by the darkness surrounding her. Her essence illuminated e.l.f. ’s poignant documentary, “Show Your(s)e.l.f.”, a tribute to the unwavering radiance of the human spirit. In this captivating narrative, adversity, and triumph dance in harmony, each heartbeat echoing the melody of inclusivity, accessibility, and limitless positivity.
In the alchemy of storytelling, new chapters unfold, offering glimpses behind the curtain of Pagonis’s world, where determination shapes destiny and dreams take flight on the wings of hope. Amidst the darkness, a beacon of hope came into her life in the form of Radar, her guide dog. The canine transformed her world, helping her navigate the challenges and lifting her from the depths of depression caused by her vision loss.
Pagonis’s courage extends beyond the pool. She uses her platforms on TikTok and Instagram to educate and inspire, sharing insights about blindness. Her roots trace back to Greece, a heritage she holds dear as she continues to break barriers and touch hearts around the globe.
“Like Pagonis, at e.l.f., we sculpt our platform to honor every facet of existence,” said Kory Marchisotto, e.l.f. Beauty’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We unfurl our banners to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of beauty in all its forms. Pagonis embodies this ethos. Her courage ignites our spirits, urging us to unfurl our bold truth and dance freely in the radiance of our authentic selves.”
Pagonis, a titan of the waves, a keeper of records, her journey etched with the indelible ink of resilience, found solace in the digital symphony of social media. Here, amidst the chaos of pixels and pixels, she shared her story, truth, and unwavering pursuit of beauty and athletic prowess. In this digital sanctuary, she discovered a tribe, a chorus of voices echoing her resilience, finding strength in her journey, and inspiration in her resolve.
“To walk alongside e.l.f. is to dance in the light of dreams fulfilled,” Pagonis effuses. “I am overcome with e.l.f.-full joy to be woven into their tapestry, to have my story sung authentically, to share the peaks and valleys of my odyssey. In their embrace, I am cherished for who I am and allowed to blossom in my truth. This partnership is a symphony of dreams come alive.”
Born on May 2, 2004, in Long Island, New York, Pagonis has blossomed into a beacon of inspiration within American Paralympic swimming. Fueled by unyielding determination and an unwavering spirit, she stood tall as a proud representative of the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, rightfully earning her esteemed place among the world’s most exceptional athletes.
Pagonis’s journey on the international stage began with her debut at the 2020 WPS World Series event in Melbourne, Australia, in February 2020. Her victories in the 400-meter freestyle, clinching gold, and the 200-meter medley, securing bronze stirred the hearts of countless admirers. Amidst the fierce competition, her resilience radiated brightly, evidenced by her eighth-place finish in the 50-meter freestyle and an awe-inspiring fourth place in the 100-meter freestyle event.
“Like Pagonis, at e.l.f., we sculpt our platform to honor every facet of existence. We unfurl our banners to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of beauty in all its forms. Pagonis embodies this ethos. Her courage ignites our spirits, urging us to unfurl our bold truth and dance freely in the radiance of our authentic selves”
e.l.f. Beauty’s Chief Marketing Officer
Pagonis’s tenacity was on full display at the US Paralympic trials as she shattered the world 400-meter freestyle S11 record not once but twice – first during the prelims and subsequently in the finals. Although these records awaited ratification before the Tokyo Games, they marked her as a formidable competitor. In June 2021, the exciting news broke that Pagonis was named to Team USA, setting the stage for her to inspire and excel at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan.
At just 17 years old, Pagonis stood tall and proud, representing the United States in the women’s 400-meter freestyle S11 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. With an astonishing blend of talent and determination, she shattered the S11 class world record in the preliminary heat, clocking in at 4:58.40. But Anastasia wasn’t done yet. In the finals, she outdid herself, breaking the world record again with a breathtaking time of 4:54.49, capturing her first Paralympic gold medal and the United States’ first gold of the Games.
Pagonis’s brilliance didn’t stop there. She competed fiercely in the women’s 200-meter individual medley SM11 event, setting an American record at 2:45:61 and securing a bronze medal. Her remarkable journey continued on April 14, 2022, when she was named to the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships roster. Making her World Championships debut on June 15, 2022, Anastasia once again shone brightly, winning gold in the 200-meter individual medley SM11 event with a time of 2:49.73.
Meanwhile, in the tapestry of beauty, the alliance between e.l.f. Beauty and Pagonis emerge as a defining chapter, a beacon of inclusivity that casts light upon uncharted paths of beauty for those with visual impairments.
