Baby once called ‘ugly’ is now a beautiful little girl
Angelica, born on May 6, 2018, captivated everyone with her charming features – a cute button nose, sparkling eyes, and a unique heart-shaped port wine stain gracing her face.
However, her mother, Marianna Bowering, revealed that despite acceptance and support from friends and family, some individuals have unfortunately chosen to make unwarranted remarks about Angelica’s distinctive birthmark.
Bowering shared with the Mirror one of the most distressing comments she received online where an individual likened Angelica’s face to being pressed against a hot skillet, suggesting it resembled a grilled surface. This insensitivity towards her daughter’s appearance reflects a persistent societal issue of stigmatizing physical differences, she expressed.
Marianna disclosed that her young daughter has faced harmful comments, with some going so far as to label Angelica as “hideous” and a “defect”. Such unkind remarks added another layer of complexity to the family’s journey, but their resilience has fostered an inspiring transformation.
In a show of unconditional love and support, Bowering is steadfast in ensuring Angelica knows her innate beauty isn’t diminished by her birthmark. Recently, the 27-year-old mother decided to display her solidarity uniquely and boldly. She painted a replica of Angelica’s port wine stain on her own face, using makeup as an instrument of empathy and acceptance. This act not only affirms her daughter’s beauty but also aims to challenge the societal perception of physical differences.
Drawing inspiration from Vascular Birthmark Awareness Day, where participants are encouraged to paint a heart on their cheeks, Bowering decided to take it a step further. She told The Epoch Times, “Initially I just did the heart with my makeup look but then I thought why don’t I go all out and do Angelica’s port wine stain.” Marianna’s main goal was to reflect her daughter’s unique beauty.
Despite her affirming stance, Marianna expressed dismay over some people’s suggestions that Angelica’s facial birthmark would eventually fade, or that it could be masked with makeup. Such comments undermine the message she hopes to instill in Angelica – that her birthmark is a part of her identity and that she is beautiful just as she is.
The insensitive suggestions further deepened Marianna’s distress, leading her to question why her daughter should feel compelled to mask her unique beauty instead of celebrating it. These experiences served as a stark reminder of the tough realities that individuals who deviate from traditional beauty norms often endure.
Since the beginning, Marianna and her husband have always held the belief that Angelica’s birthmark isn’t something to be hidden or shamed. Instead, they work diligently to ensure their daughter understands that her unique feature should be celebrated. To enhance this positivity, Bowering had previously adorned Angelica’s birthmark with glitter, adding a sparkly touch to “make it shine”.
While it’s known that children with facial port wine stains may potentially develop other health conditions, Bowering assures that Angelica is currently in good health.
Bowering confirmed, “Thankfully, we’ve done tests and Angelica is totally healthy. We just need to have regular check-ups, especially for her eyes as glaucoma can be a concern.”
Indeed, Angelica is an emblem of unique beauty, and no external opinion should ever taint her self-perception. Kudos to Marianna for her incredible strength as a mother, relentlessly reassuring her daughter that her birthmark is not a flaw but a special characteristic to be cherished. This touching story is a testament to a mother’s unconditional love and the importance of accepting and celebrating our unique selves.
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