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.
For those of us that don’t fit the stereotypical “perfect” mold, the world can seem very cruel, with complete strangers feeling it necessary to criticize someone based on their appearance on social media.
Karine de Souza knows this more than anyone. The Brazilian has spent her life covering her skin in SPF100 sunscreens – even when she’s inside her home – due to her rare skin condition.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with Xeroderma Pigmentosum when she was three years old which means she is at high risk of skin cancer.
Her ”one-in-a-million” condition, which is incurable, means she is highly sensitive to UV rays as she lacks the ability to repair any damage the sun causes to her skin.
Just a few minutes in the sun can mean incredibly painful sunburn for her. Growing up, she was often isolated from the outside world because it was too dangerous for her to spend too much time outside her house.
“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 said.
Karine has had to endure 130 surgical procedures to remove lesions caused by the sun, including the removal of her lower lip and part of her nose.
Sadly, it is not only a physical battle she has to endure. Karine often gets stared at in the street and has been the victim of verbal abuse both within her community and online.
But despite her suffering, she remains upbeat and happy and has even found love.
She met her husband Edmilson through social media, who fell in love with her “story and her strength.” Edmilson has always stood by Karine’s side, and he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
He also decided to embrace Karine’s three children from her previous relationship, which of course, meant a lot to Karine.
”He came and he showed me that I could live a true love story”, she says.
But after posting photos of them together online, Karine was once again exposed to a whole host of offensive comments.
”We have already read many offensive comments calling me a monster, deformed, a zombie,” Karine said.
Other comments suggested that their relationship wasn’t genuine and that Karine was a ”sugar mommy,” and that she must be very rich.
”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 captured the couple after they got engaged posted a selection of the images online and wrote:
”In a world where appearance matters more than the feeling, they met not by chance, but by a gathering of souls, an encounter of acceptance and character and love emerged when their souls met and today you are the inspiration to so many people who do not believe in themselves, in life and especially in love.
“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.”
His heartfelt words and beautiful images he captured of Karine and Edmilson went viral, and thousands of people commented, congratulating the couple.
Karine wants others to realize the importance of being 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.
After all the heartbreak, Jason Momoa found new love, and you’ll surely recognize her
About two years following his formal divorce from his ex-wife Lisa Bonet, Jason Momoa revealed his new relationship to the public. On Tuesday, May 21, he and actress Adria Arjona were seen cuddling on the PDA. They had declared their romance official on Instagram two days earlier.
When Momoa told fans he had been dating for a while during his appearance at the Basingstoke Comic Con in England in early May of this year, many began to speculate that the two were dating. “I’m in a relationship rather seriously. He said to the assembly, “I’ve been in a relationship for a time. “I’m really enjoying [my] privacy because everyone gives a fuck these days, whereas nobody did back in the day.”
The Aquaman star shared a number of pictures with Arjona recently, including some from their vacation to Japan. One of the photos shows the two on a beach, grinning. He tenderly referred to Arjona as “mi amor” in the post.
“You are a dream come true, Japan—you completely amazed me. We are very appreciative of everyone who opened their houses, allowing us to create memories with both old and new friends and go on yet another incredible journey with our beloved. Motorcycles and chaos on the road. All of my love, J,” the performer wrote.
Arjona herself has a Hollywod background. She has a number of noteworthy appearances, including those in Life of the Party, Pacific Rim Uprising, and a regular character in True Detective. Her breakout role was that of Dorothy Gale in the Emerald City adaption of the Oz book.Despite the fact that the show was canceled after just one season, she has since landed many important parts.
makes an appearance in the recently released comedy-action Netflix film Hit Man, which stars Glen Powell and was directed by Richard Linklater.
Momoa’s stepdaughter from his marriage to Bonet, Zoë Kravitz, directed Blink Twice, one of her most recent ventures.
Edgardo Canales, a lawyer, was Arjona’s husband. They had a private relationship, and no information about their breakup has been made public.
Momoa dated Eiza González for a few months in 2022 prior to Arjona.
The new pair appeared in the 2021 Netflix original series Sweet Girl together.
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