When Angelica was born on May 6, 2018, she was a beautiful baby with a cute button nose, sparkling eyes, and a unique heart-shaped port wine stain on her face. Although most friends and family accepted and adored Angelica’s birthmark, her mother, Marianna Bowering, faced hurtful criticism from others.
Marianna shared an especially painful comment online, where someone cruelly compared Angelica’s face to looking like it had been “pushed onto a skillet,” insinuating a grilled appearance. Heartless remarks like “hideous” and “defect” weighed heavily on the family, adding emotional strain.
To counteract this negativity, Marianna chose to celebrate her daughter’s uniqueness. Recently, in honor of Vascular Birthmark Awareness Day, which encourages painting hearts on cheeks to raise awareness, she recreated Angelica’s birthmark on her own face using makeup. Initially planning to paint only a heart, Marianna decided instead to replicate her daughter’s entire birthmark.
Some have suggested that Angelica could conceal her birthmark with makeup, but Marianna is committed to embracing and celebrating her daughter’s natural beauty.
She reassured TODAY that Angelica is in excellent health, with regular check-ups to monitor any potential complications. Marianna’s unwavering love and support radiate as she teaches her daughter to be proud of her birthmark and to see it as part of what makes her special.