A newborn infant, like every other human being, possesses a unique and captivating quality. In 2018, Angelica was welcomed into the world by elated parents and siblings. Her heart-shaped port wine stain beautifully enhanced her already remarkable features.
Although Angelica’s family showered her with love and acceptance despite her birthmark, not everyone recognized the value of her distinctive mark.
Angelica’s mother revealed that her daughter received warm acceptance within the family, but they also had to confront hurtful remarks regarding her looks from outsiders.
One individual went so far as to suggest that Angelica’s face resembled a grill, marking one of the most hurtful online comments Marianna Bowering, Angelica’s mother, had ever encountered. Marianna recounted that her daughter had been labeled as ‘unattractive’ and a ‘flaw’ on occasion. These hurtful remarks took a toll on the family, adding to their existing challenges, but they remained determined to overcome them.
Despite the hurtful comments, Angelica’s family consistently encouraged her to love herself just as she was. To boost her self-esteem, Marianna started painting a heart-shaped birthmark on Angelica’s face, inspired by Vascular Birthmark Awareness Day, where they encouraged people to paint hearts on their cheeks. Over time, she decided to recreate Angelica’s port wine stain.
Whenever someone attempted to console Marianna by suggesting that Angelica’s mark would eventually fade or that she could conceal it with makeup as she grew older, it only compounded Marianna’s concerns. She couldn’t help but wonder if her daughter would be pressured to conceal her natural beauty rather than embrace it, underscoring the societal expectations placed on individuals.
Loved ones helped Angelica embrace her uniqueness. To accentuate the blemishes in her port wine, Marianne is sometimes decorated with glitter. “Thankfully, we did tests, and Angelica is perfectly healthy,” Mariana said, referring to the potential health problems associated with such birthmarks in children. “We just have to make sure we check it regularly, especially in her eyes, because cataracts can be a concern. It’s nice to see Angelica learning to accept and even celebrate her birthmark.” Don’t you agree she’s a really wonderful young woman?”