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.
Sometimes, it feels like the world can be really harsh, especially for people who don’t look like the typical “perfect” image. It’s tough when random people think it’s okay to judge others just because of how they look on social media.
Karine de Souza understands this better than most. She’s from Brazil and has had to use SPF100 sunscreen all the time, even when she’s just at home, because of a rare skin condition she has.
A 33-year-old woman found out she had Xeroderma Pigmentosum when she was just three years old. This rare condition puts her at a greater risk for skin cancer.
Since her body can’t fix the harm that sunlight does to her skin, she is super sensitive to UV rays. Even a little bit of sun exposure can lead to really painful sunburns for her. While growing up, she had to stay away from the outdoors a lot because it was too risky for her to be outside for long periods.
“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 says.
Karine has gone through 130 surgeries to get rid of skin lesions caused by the sun, which included having her lower lip and part of her nose removed.
Unfortunately, her struggles aren’t just physical. She often faces stares from people on the street and has experienced hurtful comments both in her community and online.
Despite all the challenges she faces, Karine stays positive and cheerful, and she has even found love.
She met her husband Edmilson on social media, and he was drawn to her “story and her strength.” Edmilson has always been there for Karine, and he knew he wanted to be with her forever.
He also chose to accept Karine’s three kids from her past relationship, which really meant a lot to her.
“He came into my life and showed me what a real love story could be,” she shares.
However, after she shared pictures of them together online, Karine faced a lot of hurtful comments again.
”We have already read many offensive comments calling me a monster, deformed, a zombie,” Karine said, as per the Daily Mail.
Other comments suggested that their relationship wasn’t genuine and that Karine was a ”sugar mommy,” and that she must be very rich.
Posted by Daniel Panisson Fotografias on Sunday, October 7, 2018
”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 took pictures of a couple right after their engagement shared some of those photos online and wrote:
“In a world where looks seem to matter more than feelings, their meeting wasn’t just a coincidence. It was like their souls came together, creating a moment filled with acceptance, character, and love. Today, you inspire so many people who struggle to believe in themselves, in life, and especially in love.
“THANK YOU for being yourselves every single day. Stop complaining about who you are. Embrace life and accept yourself. I’m so grateful for everything you’ve taught me. You both are AMAZING. You bring hope to so many. Thank you for the big hug and for the incredible day we shared. I will always carry your smile in my heart.”
His touching words and stunning pictures of Karine and Edmilson spread like wildfire online, and thousands of people left comments, congratulating the happy couple.
Karine hopes to inspire others to see how important it is to stay 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.
