A ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑖f𝑖𝑒𝑑 mum has hit back at 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 who asked if her daughter’s face had been ‘pushed onto a skillet’ – and even said that her ‘ℎ𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠’ baby could never get a boyfriend.
Proud mum Marianna Bowering said she has always lovingly embraced her daughter’s dark facial birthmark as a unique addition to her beauty that should be celebrated.
The 27-year-old from Adelaide, South Australia, explained that her adorable little girl Angelica, one, was born with a 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡-𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑒 stain across her face – which she calls an ‘angel kiss’ due to its incredible love heart shape.
Thankfully, little Angelica is healthy as can be and will undergo regular check-ups to ensure there are no health concerns arising from her 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡-𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑒 stain.
Marianna said that although most people in her life are loving and accepting of Angelica’s birthmark, she does often receive ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 comments about it both in person and online.
“People have told me I shouldn’t draw attention to her face,” Marianna said.
“Why can’t she have an 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚 page without adults 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 her online? It’s ridiculous.
“They are literally 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 a baby. She is not even two yet, it is disgusting behaviour.
“I don’t care what anyone says though. I would never hide my little girl because of it, I think she is absolutely stunning.”
Marianna said that while she and her husband Corey, 27, did not care about the physical appearance of the skin condition, the couple had no idea that 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑒 stains could indicate other health concerns such as development delays, 𝑠𝑒𝑖𝑧𝑢𝑟𝑒s and – because the stain was covering her eyes – 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑎 .
“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.
“It was quite overwhelming to learn of these extra things that could go along with a 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡-𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑒 stain.
“But she is doing so well, and we couldn’t be prouder of her.”
Marianna explained that while some 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠 were obvious, there were times when strangers in public would say things to her that were simply thoughtless, insensitive or essentially ‘back handed’ compliments.
“I think some people are in denial about the stain, they think it will fade over time,” she said.
“The thing I hate most is when people tell me she can just cover it with make-up when she’s older.
“Why should she cover it up? If she wants to flaunt it, she can.
“The other comment that annoys me is when people see her and tell me not to worry because she is ‘still beautiful’. It is such a backhanded compliment.
“People also ask me why she had face 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛t on, and I have to explain that it’s actually a birthmark.
“I get strangers coming up to me all the time asking questions, which I think is a little bit rude.
“I don’t really mind that as much though, because at the very least I can educate them and help raise awareness.”
Now the brave mum is raising awareness of the condition as well as calling out the 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 who have said nasty things about her daughter – including asking whether Angelica’s face had been put onto a skillet.
She added: “It 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘s my heart to think about anyone being mean to her. But I see her now, and she is such a confident little girl and she isn’t 𝑎f𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑑 of anything.
“I am sure she is going to get through anything life throws at her.
“She is more than her birthmark. She is her own person, and she is not different to anyone else.
“It’s her superhero mask. She wears her heart on her face.”
