When Angelica was born on May 6, 2018, she was absolutely beautiful. She had a cute button nose, beautiful eyes, and a heart-shaped port wine stain on her face.
Her mother, Marianna Bowering, said that although many of her friends and relatives are accepting of Angelica’s birthmark, there are still some people who feel it necessary to comment on her daughter’s appearance.
“The worst comment I received online was when someone asked me if her face had been pushed onto a skillet. Saying her face looked grilled,” Bowering told the Mirror.
Marianna revealed that her daughter was subjected to hurtful remarks, being labeled as “hideous” and a “defect”. The cruelty and insensitivity of such words only added to the challenges this family faced, but their resilience and determination to overcome these obstacles ultimately led to a remarkable transformation.
Despite the rude comments, Bowering does everything in her power to make sure Angelica grows up knowing that she is beautiful just the way she is.
Recently, the 27-year-old mother decided to use makeup to paint a copy of her 5-year-old daughter’s birthmark on her face.
“I got the idea from vascular birthmark awareness day, where they encourage people to paint a heart on the cheeks,” Bowering said, according to 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.”
“I wanted to be just as beautiful as her.”
Marianna was distraught when some people suggested that her daughter’s facial spots would fade over time, while others suggested that Angelica could simply conceal them with makeup if she wished.
These comments only added to the pain and frustration of the mother, who wondered why her daughter should have to hide her natural beauty rather than embrace it.
It was a heartbreaking reminder of the harsh realities faced by those who don’t conform to conventional beauty standards, but it also highlighted how important acceptance and love are for all individuals, regardless of their appearance.
From the beginning, neither Bowering nor her husband thought their daughter’s birthmark was something they nor she should be ashamed of. So they’re actively working to make sure that they know it’s something that should be celebrated.
Before the matching “birthmark,” Bowering dressed up Angelica’s port wine stain with glitter to “make it shine.”
Children with port wine stains on their faces are at risk of developing other health problems, but Bowering told TODAY that Angelica is in good health.
“Thankfully, we’ve done tests and Angelica is healthy,” Bowering said. “We just need to have regular check-ups, especially for her eyes as glaucoma can be a concern.”
Angelica, you’re absolutely beautiful. Don’t let anyone ever tell you anything different.
Marianna, thank you for being an amazing mama and continuously showing your daughter there’s nothing wrong with her birthmark.
