With the rise of social media, we’re constantly seeing images of perfect-looking people, making the world seem even more focused on appearances.
For those who don’t fit this “perfect” mold, life can be tough, with strangers feeling the need to criticize others based on their looks.
Karine de Souza knows this all too well. The Brazilian woman has a rare skin condition that requires her to cover her skin in SPF100 sunscreen, even when she’s indoors.
At age three, Karine was diagnosed with Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare condition that makes her very sensitive to sunlight and puts her at high risk for skin cancer.
This condition, which has no cure, means her skin can’t repair damage from UV rays. Just a few minutes in the sun can lead to very painful sunburns for her. As a child, she had to stay inside most of the time because being outside was too dangerous.
She explains, “I don’t feel anything right away when I’m in the sun, but later on, I get painful lesions that need to be removed because of cancer.”
Karine has had 130 surgeries to remove lesions caused by the sun, including parts of her lower lip and nose.
But her challenges go beyond physical pain. She often gets stared at and has faced verbal abuse both in person and online.
Despite all this, Karine stays positive and happy. She even found love with her husband, Edmilson, whom she met through social media. Edmilson was drawn to her story and strength, and he’s always been by her side, knowing he wanted to spend his life with her.
He also decided to embrace Karine’s three children from her previous relationship, which of course, meant a lot to Karine.
”He came and he showed me that I could live a true love story”, she says.
But after posting photos of them together online, Karine was once again exposed to a whole host of offensive comments.
”We have already read many offensive comments calling me a monster, deformed, a zombie,” Karine said, as per the Daily Mail.
Other comments suggested that their relationship wasn’t genuine and that Karine was a ”sugar mommy,” and that she must be very rich.
”Because of the fact he’s a young man and pretty, that caught people’s attention and they didn’t believe that he was with me because he really liked me,” Karine said.
A photographer who captured the couple after they got engaged posted a selection of the images online and wrote:
”In a world where appearance matters more than the feeling, they met not by chance, but by a gathering of souls, an encounter of acceptance and character and love emerged when their souls met and today you are the inspiration to so many people who do not believe in themselves, in life and especially in love.
“THANK YOU every day for being who you are. STOP complaining for being like you are. HUG LIFE, and accept yourself. Much gratitude for teaching me so much. You guys are AMAZING. You are the missing hope in so many people. Thank you for the big hug, and for the wonderful day we experienced together. I carry your smile with me forever.”
His heartfelt words and beautiful images he captured of Karine and Edmilson went viral, and thousands of people commented, congratulating the couple.
Karine wants others to realize the importance of being positive.
”Be happy, smile, because life happens only once,” she said.
In 2023, Karine and Edmílson welcomed a baby girl into the world, and they couldn’t be happier! Their daughter, Zaia, was long awaited – Karine and her husband had been trying for a baby since 2020.
Karine has been through so much but thanks to her positive attitude she has found the happiness she deserves.
Her story is inspirational so help us inspire others in similar situations by sharing this story with your friends and family.
Teen Crochets Her Own Zendaya-Inspired Prom Dress for $60 — and in Just Three Days (Exclusive)
Imagine deciding to crochet your own prom dress from scratch with just four days to go before the event. It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Not for 18-year-old Sarah Akinbuwa of Boston, though, who made this challenge a viral hit!
Sarah chose to rely on her amazing crochet abilities despite having only four days to prepare for her prom. What was the outcome? a gorgeous floor-length, pink, strapless gown that was modeled after Zendaya’s famous Valentino Haute Couture outfit from the 2023 SAG Awards.
Sarah reflected on her choice and said to PEOPLE, “I had to make a dress by hand.”
Sarah not only finished the gorgeous dress in three days, but she also crocheted a handbag and floor-length shrug to match. What talent and commitment!
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Sarah’s outfit was inspired by Zendaya’s SAG Awards gown, which had 190 roses on the skirt. Even though Sarah’s version was finished much faster, it is still quite intricate and beautiful.
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With over 26 million views, the TikTok film chronicling Sarah’s creative journey has already captured the attention of millions of people!
In a public restroom, Sarah is seen wearing the outfit in one of her TikTok videos, and a bystander couldn’t help but remark on her artistic work. “I love your dress,” the person was heard saying. Sarah happily replied, “Thank you, I made it.” I needed three days to complete it.
The compliments didn’t end there. Sarah told PEOPLE, “My friends loved the dress and I got tons of compliments.”
For Sarah, crocheting a gown in such a short amount of time was a natural challenge, even though it would appear overwhelming to others. Since she was twelve years old, she has been crocheting, gradually improving her talents.
In addition to making her own prom dress, Sarah accepts custom orders and crafts lovely, one-of-a-kind items for loved ones, acquaintances, and Instagram followers. Her crocheting abilities are unmatched!
And what about the future? Sarah intends to pursue a profession in fashion design. She has talent and imagination, so it’s not hard to envision her rising to prominence in the fashion industry.
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