Thanks to the rise of social media, we’re all bombarded with images of seemingly perfect-looking people; it seems as though the world has become even more shallow in how people are judged.
For those of us that don’t fit the stereotypical “perfect” mold, the world can seem very cruel, with complete strangers feeling it necessary to criticize someone based on their appearance on social media.
Karine de Souza knows this more than anyone. The Brazilian has spent her life covering her skin in SPF100 sunscreens – even when she’s inside her home – due to her rare skin condition.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with Xeroderma Pigmentosum when she was three years old which means she is at high risk of skin cancer.
Her ”one-in-a-million” condition, which is incurable, means she is highly sensitive to UV rays as she lacks the ability to repair any damage the sun causes to her skin.
Just a few minutes in the sun can mean incredibly painful sunburn for her. Growing up, she was often isolated from the outside world because it was too dangerous for her to spend too much time outside her house.
“When I expose myself to the sun it doesn’t happen in the moment, I don’t feel anything. However, in the future, the lesions appear and need to be removed because of cancer,” she said.
Karine has had to endure 130 surgical procedures to remove lesions caused by the sun, including the removal of her lower lip and part of her nose.
Sadly, it is not only a physical battle she has to endure. Karine often gets stared at in the street and has been the victim of verbal abuse both within her community and online.
But despite her suffering, she remains upbeat and happy and has even found love.
She met her husband Edmilson through social media, who fell in love with her “story and her strength.” Edmilson has always stood by Karine’s side, and he knew he wanted to spend the rest of 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.
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.
Michael Jackson’s only daughter Paris proud of African-American roots, identifies as black
Paris Jackson, the sole child of the late Michael Jackson, said lately that she considers herself to be a black woman even though she is mixed-race.
“I consider myself black,” Paris declares, honoring her father’s lineage and traditions, both musically and physically, adding that her father would have wanted her to “be proud of your roots.”
To find out more about Paris Jackson’s identity, continue reading!
Paris Jackson is an American actress, model, and singer who was born on April 3, 1998. Her parents are Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe.
Newly arrived members of the Jackson family, Paris, 25, and her two brothers Bigi, 22, and Prince, 27, came into the spotlight, attracting a large number of admirers who wanted to know everything there was to know about them.
The Billy Jean singer used masks, veils, and blankets (for Bigi) to shield his kids from curious onlookers when they were little.
Jackson’s security described the three children to People in 2007 as “well-mannered, well-behaved kids.”They really do have good judgment. Michael’s top priority was them.
But when their father passed away in 2009, the children’s shield was lifted, and they were thrust into the spotlight on their own, becoming easy pickings for the paparazzi.
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And it caused post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Paris.She said, “I’ve been going to therapy for a lot of things, but that included audio hallucinations with camera clicks and severe paranoia.”
At the age of 15, the young lady acknowledged that she had made “multiple” attempts at suicide. In 2019, she checked herself into a rehab facility.
“It was just self-hatred,” she remarked.Low self-esteem, belief that I was incapable of doing anything well, and belief that I was no longer worthy of life.”
“My dad is who she is.”
She explains that Prince Michael Jackson, her older brother, has had a significant influence on her today, saying, “He’s everything to me, you know?” Regarding her relationship with Prince, she said to People in 2020, “I’ve always looked up to him and always wanted his approval and everything, and wanted to be more like him.”
He continues by saying that his younger sister “shares almost all of her weaknesses as well as all of her strengths with her father.” She has a lot of passion.
She has walked the catwalk for high-end labels like Chanel and is the lead singer and guitarist for the band The Soundflowers. In addition to her intense dedication for her work, she is dedicated to carrying on her father’s legacy.
My entire family is involved in music. She remarked in 2020, “I mean, I’m a Jackson.” “Being a musician makes sense, but like, a Jackson doing folk indie?”everything pertaining to raceShe shares a racial bond with her late father.The hitmaker, who was African-American and had a darker complexion in his younger years, was said to have suffered Vitiligo, a condition that alters skin color, unlike the Beat It singer, who had fair skin later in life. Throughout his career, Jackson’s look has been the subject of much suspicion, although he has consistently denied bleaching his skin.The rapper said in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey that his skin’s depigmentation was caused by vitiligo and that his nose operation was the only cosmetic procedure he had done.
“I take pride in my race. At the time, Jackson said to Winfrey, “I am proud of who I am.” Paris claims to identify as black, keeping in mind her dad’s African-American ancestry.Paris stated that she “considers [herself] black” and that “[Michael] would look me in the eyes and he’d point his finger at me and he’d be like, ‘You’re black,’” when discussing the situation with Rolling Stone magazine in 2017. Take pride in your heritage.She talks about her lighter skin and says that many people think she’s from “Finland or something” because of her bleached blonde hair and stunning blue eyes. “Okay, he’s my dad, why would he lie to me?” she asks. I just take his word for it. Because he has never lied to me, as far as I know.
Not surprise, she faced considerable backlash after her statement of race was made public. “I get that she considers herself black and everything, but I’m just talking about the visual because you know…black is not what you call yourself, it’s what the cops see you when they got steel to your neck on the turnpike,” said a very outspoken talk show host mockingly of Jackson’s only daughter for identifying as a black woman.That’s what people see, she continues. But that’s adorable and beneficial to her.What do you think about Paris Jackson identifying as a black woman in order to carry on her father’s legacy?Kindly share this story with others and share your comments with us so that we can hear from others as well!
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