Enzo Cstari, a one-year-old from Cáeres, Brazil, was born with a prominent dark birthmark that stretches across most of his forehead and down one side of his nose. The birthmark made him unique, but it also exposed him to curious looks, whispers, and even occasional contempt from a society that often struggles to embrace differences.
However, Enzo’s mother, Carolina Giraldelli, was determined that her son should never feel the need to hide his birthmark. She was committed to ensuring that Enzo felt perfect just the way he was. She recalls the challenging times when she felt the constant scrutiny of society and the negative judgments that came with it. “The looks of pity, contempt, fear, and sometimes disgust are always directed at us,” Giraldelli shared. “Although this is not an easy thing to accept, my husband and I have decided to act as if everything is normal, because we want to give our son the strength to believe in himself and move forward.”
To better understand the prejudices her son faced, Giraldelli came up with a unique idea. On a special occasion, she asked a friend, who happens to be a makeup artist, to apply makeup and recreate a birthmark that resembled Enzo’s on her own face. The experience took her by surprise, and she shared, “After the makeup was done, I was really surprised and touched because I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Upon returning home, she was greeted by Enzo’s pure joy and happiness, even though he might not fully grasp the significance of the moment. Giraldelli proudly captured the beautiful moment through photographs and went about her day with the makeup in place. The reactions of those around her were different, but she remained steadfast, knowing she was the proudest mother in the world.
Carolina Giraldelli’s journey began when she gave birth to Enzo in May 2017. She had seen the baby’s umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice and initially mistook the birthmark for dirt. When she realized it was a birthmark, she shed tears of gratitude that her baby was born healthy. From that moment, she knew she needed to be strong, courageous, and brave to help her son overcome the challenges that lay ahead.
After sharing a picture of herself with the makeup mimicking her son’s birthmark on social media, Giraldelli was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and encouragement. She received countless messages of comfort, empowerment, and kind words for her son. Her story has resonated with mothers and families who face similar challenges, inspiring them to embrace their unique journeys and celebrate the beauty of diversity.
