Jasmine IVANNA Espy
Jasmine IVANNA Espy is a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and non-profit founder advocating for hidradenitis suppurativa (hs) and chronically ill communities. Her work amplifies the experience of the whole while also taking a special interest in platforming the stories of Black and Brown people with hs.
In 2019, Espy premiered her non-profit, My Gold Lining, Inc’s documentary on hs called, MY GOLD LINING: A DOCUMENTARY ON HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA. While it is not currently available for streaming, a recut of the documentary is currently underway to be released in Fall/ Winter 2022/ 23. The purpose of My Gold Lining, Inc. is to use popular media to raise awareness about Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) and provide patients and caregivers with the tools to manage chronic disease through partnerships, summits, and programs.
In addition to her work in the non-profit sector, Espy is a micro-influencer and advocate actively working with pharmaceutical companies, foundations, physicians, small businesses, and grassroots organizations to help build awareness around hs by sharing her own personal journey with the disease as well as providing a platform for others to do the same. Her end goal is for hs to be as well known and understood as diabetes, psoriasis, and cancer to minimize shame and guilt.
She is currently a recurring writer on HSDisease.com, and her work expands beyond the health and wellness sector into music and entertainment as she is also a music reporter for I Care If You Listen, and works on other documentaries within this space.