Marianna Bowering, an Australian makeup artist and devoted mom, is using her skills to challenge cruel beauty standards—and celebrate her daughter, Angelica.
Angelica was born in 2018 with a heart-shaped port-wine stain birthmark covering part of her face. While her parents embraced it as part of who she is, the outside world wasn’t always kind. Strangers left hurtful comments online, even calling her “hideous” or saying she looked like she was burned.
Instead of staying silent, Marianna fought back—with love and creativity. She began sharing photos on Instagram, sometimes painting matching heart shapes on her own face in solidarity. Her posts, filled with pride and joy, quickly gained support from around the world.
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Beyond the bullying, Marianna also raises awareness about the health risks tied to birthmarks like Angelica’s, such as glaucoma and Sturge-Weber syndrome, while ensuring her daughter gets regular medical care.
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Through it all, Marianna is showing that real beauty comes from acceptance, strength, and the courage to be seen. As she puts it: “You don’t need to cover up to be beautiful—you just need to be loved.”
