Berlange Presilus
Born in Haiti as the only daughter and the youngest sibling to two boys, l learned to fight for my rights and be strong at a very early age. As far I can remember, life in Haiti was beautiful, but l constantly had to battle with my older brothers and stand my ground, which served as a preparation for the world l was about to face and help shape me into a resilient and determined woman. I moved to the U.S.A at the age of 12 and this enabled me to dream with greater aspirations of making my dreams come true. However, I lived a life full of worries and my fears were always greater than the opportunities presented. Sometimes I felt very close to my destiny, yet so far, due to the constant rejections l faced. I was born with Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome. KTS is a rare congenital vascular disorder in which a limb is affected by a port-wine stain (red-purple birthmark involving blood vessels), varicose veins and/or too much bone and soft tissue growth. The limb may be larger, longer or warmer than normal. One person out of a hundred thousand is affected by KTS. It is caused by a mutation of the genes during the first trimester of pregnancy. Despite being born with one of the rarest syndromes, I am showing the world that beauty is an attitude; it is beyond what the eyes can see. I am a fashion model, entrepreneur, public speaker, KTS advocate, and ambassador. Born with a purpose to teach, my reality tells its own story. Hopefully, it will empower others to dream out loud, own their truth and believe in the endless possibilities. https://www.bellenge.com/