What it takes to 'fake it', and the impact deception can have on your life

What does it mean to be real? We are living in a world where it's hard to know what's true and what's not.

And it's a lot more personal than just the ever-present headlines about fake news — it's about what you believe and who believes you.

Whether it's being duped, hiding the truth, or pretending to be someone you're not, these moments happen for all sorts of reasons. So this week, we're jumping with people who are getting a first-hand look at what it means to "fake".

When Saifora Ibrahim Patkiss fled Afghanistan with her family and arrived in Canada, she was greeted by a phone call from a scam artist. It ended with her losing $7,000 but what she received back from her community was priceless.

Abi Oyewole lives with chronic illness but her biggest barrier in society is other people's judgment. Tired of being accused of faking it, Abi is speaking out more and more about living with disability and finding moments of joy in escaping into the world of cosplay. 

When Kwagiulth artist Lou-ann Neel found a copy of one of her artworks being sold without permission on an American website, she was angry but not surprised. Now, she's fighting back and honouring the legacy of her artist ancestors. 

For years Julie Elliott went to doctors trying to figure out what was wrong with her health, but she says they told her it was all in her head. When she discovered a Breast Implant Illness support group, suddenly everything started to make sense. Now, after having her implants removed, she works to make sure other women don't feel as lost and alone as she did.

Ify and Trevor challenge each other to "Be Real" on social media by using a new app that strips away the filters, the facade and the fakeness. What does that leave them with? Just what is real. 

When Humza Mian transforms into drag queen Mango Lassi, it's an opportunity to express and celebrate the femininity he was told to repress as a child. Keeping his artistry and his queerness separate from some of his family is not fake, it's real life.