Mother Defends Baby Daughter Against Trolls' Cruel Remarks of 'Hideousness'
Proud mum Marianna Bowering said daughter Angelica “is more than her birthmark. She is her own person, and she is not different to anyone else”. A horrified mum has hit back at cruel bullies who asked if her daughter’s face had been ‘pushed onto a frying pan’ and even said that her ‘hideous’ baby could never get a boyfriend. Mum Marianna Bowering said little Angelica was born with a heart-shaped port wine stain across her face and has always thought of it as a unique addition to her beauty that should be celebrated.
Marianna from Adelaide, South Australia, said that although most people in her life are loving and accepting of Angelica’s birthmark, she often receives hateful comments about it both in person and online. Some of the bullies have gone so far as to call Angelica ‘hideous’ and a ‘defect’ and one even said the one-year-old could never get a boyfriend later in life.
“In person, I think the most hurtful thing was when someone at a soccer game told me that she was a ‘defect’.
“He just said that to me and then walked away, I was shocked.
“I’ve gotten other comments from people saying things like she was hideous, that she would never get a boyfriend later in life and that I shouldn’t have let her play with boiling water.
“People have told me I shouldn’t draw attention to her face.
“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 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.
She said: “I think some people are in denial about the stain, they think it will fade over time.
“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 back-handed 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.
Mum Marianna, dad Corey, and baby Angelica
“I don’t really mind that as much though, because at the very least I can educate them and help raise awareness.”
Port wine stains, also known as capillary malformations, are permanent red or blue-coloured birthmarks that are present from birth.
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.”
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.
