When Angelica Bowering was born on May 6, 2018, her parents immediately noticed her striking beauty, highlighted by a distinctive heart-shaped port wine stain on her face. As she grew older, however, her family had to confront a wave of cruel and insensitive remarks about her birthmark. Strangers online made harsh comments, with some calling the little girl “hideous” or a “defect,” and even comparing her appearance to being “pushed onto a skillet.”
Despite the negativity, Angelica’s parents, Marianna and her husband, remain steadfast in their mission to raise their daughter with confidence and self-love. They believe her birthmark is something to be celebrated, not hidden. Marianna, in particular, was disheartened when people suggested Angelica might one day cover the mark with makeup or hope for it to fade. For her, the idea that her daughter should conceal her natural beauty to meet conventional standards was unacceptable.
Determined to challenge these views, Marianna decided to embrace the birthmark in a bold and personal way. Inspired by Vascular Birthmark Awareness Day, she first painted a small heart on her cheek, but later went further—recreating Angelica’s port wine stain across her own face. Her message was powerful and direct: “I wanted to be just as beautiful as her.” By doing so, she showed Angelica and the world that the mark is not a flaw, but a defining feature of beauty.
Marianna’s gesture was more than symbolic; it was an act of love and pride. Even before this, she had found creative ways to make the birthmark special, sometimes decorating it with glitter to let it shine. These acts of support help ensure that Angelica grows up surrounded by positivity and strength, learning that her uniqueness is something to be cherished rather than criticized.
