Marianna Bowering, a makeup artist and proud mom from Australia, is using her talent to stand up to harsh beauty standards—and to celebrate her daughter, Angelica, just as she is.

Angelica was born in 2018 with a distinctive, heart-shaped port-wine stain birthmark on her face. While her family embraced it from the start, not everyone was so kind. Online trolls left cruel comments, calling the little girl “hideous” and comparing her birthmark to a burn.

But Marianna didn’t back down. Instead, she responded with love and creativity. She began posting photos on Instagram, often painting a matching heart on her own face as a show of solidarity. Her uplifting message of acceptance quickly gained global support.

Marianna also uses her platform to educate others about the potential health risks associated with port-wine stains, like glaucoma and Sturge-Weber syndrome, while ensuring Angelica receives proper medical care.

Through her advocacy, Marianna is reminding the world that true beauty lies in self-love, strength, and being unapologetically seen. As she puts it: “You don’t need to cover up to be beautiful—you just need to be loved.”