The world’s judgment of people has become even more superficial with the proliferation of social media and its constant stream of photographs of allegedly perfect-looking people. This can be particularly harsh for those who don’t fit the stereotyped “perfect” mold. Karine de Souza, a Brazilian woman, is all too familiar with this.
No one is more in-the-know about this than Karine de Souza. The Brazilian woman has spent her entire life protecting herself from the sun with SPF100 sunscreens, even while she is at home.
Karine has Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare genetic disorder that means she cannot recover from the sun’s harmful effects. She has spent her entire life protecting herself from the sun with SPF100 sunscreens, even while she is at home. Her “one-in-a-million” condition makes her very photosensitive, and even a short time in the sun can cause a terrible sunburn. As a child, it was too risky for Karine to spend much time outside, so she spent much of her time indoors.
Regrettably, she has more than just a physical challenge. Karine is frequently the target of verbal harassment and abuse from members of her local community and online.
Karine has already lost her lower lip and a chunk of her nose to sun damage, and she has undergone 130 other surgeries to remove lesions. Unfortunately, Karine has to deal with more than just a physical challenge. She is frequently the target of verbal harassment and abuse from members of her local community and online. People often leave hurtful comments on her appearance and make accusations that her relationship with her husband Edmilson is not genuine.
Several commenters even claimed Karine was a “sugar mommy” because of her wealth, implying that their relationship wasn’t real.
“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.”
Edmilson, on the other hand, found Karine on Facebook and was immediately drawn to her strength and story. He has never left Karine’s side and has always known that she was the one he would spend the rest of his life with. The fact that he accepted Karine’s three children from a prior relationship was a huge deal for her.
”Be happy, smile, because life happens only once,” she said.
After the couple got engaged, they took some photos and uploaded them online. Unfortunately, Karine was subjected to even more hateful remarks after posting the photos. Commenters called her a “monster,” “deformed,” and a “zombie.” Some even claimed that Karine was a “sugar mommy” because of her wealth, implying that their relationship wasn’t real. Despite this, Karine and Edmilson remained strong and continued to share their love story with the world.
The couple’s photographer uploaded the stunning photos with a beautiful caption, praising Karine and Edmilson’s “encounter of acceptance and character and love” and calling them an “inspiration to so many people who do not believe in themselves, in life and especially in love.” The photos received a lot of praise from people who were touched by their story.
Karine and Edmlson were overjoyed with the birth of their daughter in 2023. Karine and her husband had been trying to have a child since 2020, so the birth of their daughter Zaia came as a welcome surprise.
Karine hopes that her example will inspire others to embrace optimism and happiness in life. She urges people to be happy and smile, as life happens only once. In 2023, Karine and Edmilson welcomed their daughter Zaia, the result of their years of trying to conceive. Despite the challenges she has faced, Karine’s positive outlook has helped her find the fulfillment and success she deserves.
Please SHARE her story with your Friends and Family to encourage them if they’re going through something similar