Marimar Quiroa had only one way to protect herself as a child: hiding.
She was born in California with cystic hygroma, a congenital anomaly that affects her face and neck.
A tumor that prevents her from speaking and eating properly; since she was little, she has undergone several surgeries to improve her quality of life, breathes with the help of a tube in her throat, and is fed through another in her stomach.
She faced mockery and the fear of going out in public. When people stared at her, she stared right back without looking away until they gave up.
Today, at 22, she is a makeup artist and uploads tutorials to YouTube with explanations in sign language.
Her idea of beauty is accepting yourself and ignoring other people’s opinions.