My name is Jessica Cox and two years ago, I got married. That may not sound that extraordinary but when I was a child I did not really think that I would tie the knot. In fact I did not think of really having relationships. You see I was born without arms and, like a […]
We at Don’t Hide It Flaunt It are SO lucky to have Rebekah Marine (the beautiful Lucky Fin Project Ambassador and Bionic Model) and also Gianna Schiavone (the gorgeous Ambassador and model for Runway of Dreams, the non-profit Foundation that just announced its big partnership with Tommy Hilfiger!) both share their insights from walking together in New York […]
My name is Penny Loker. I’m 34 years old and I’m considered ugly…bare with me– just keep reading! I was born with a facial difference made up of 2 conditions; Goldenhar Syndrome and left Hemiofacial Microsonomia. All this means is that the soft tissues and bone on the left hand side of my face didn’t […]
Whenever I think of how to live my life as a Little Person at twenty years old, I think of an American proverb that says, “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.” Especially in today’s society, I find us making assumptions so quickly that it often creates a different picture. […]
Probably the most unexpected thing about me is that by virtue of being an athlete, I had actually felt judged years before I ever looked physically different. That is because when you are an athlete, people are always watching you, and you always have to perform, even on and off the field. Back then, quite […]
When I was growing up, I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to have smooth skin – in any ‘normal’ skin tone other than red. I wanted to have my hair plaited by the girls in my class and be invited to more parties. I hoped that others would stop being too afraid to […]
I have always been a dreamer. As long as I can remember I loved kicking back and thinking about my future. In fact, when I was a mere 7 years old my Dad brought me home a t-shirt while on a business trip and it came with iron on numbers. I recall doing some “heavy […]
“Accomplishment begins with two words: I’ll Try! We never know unless we try.” In a world full of “you can’ts” hearing that phrase was not only surprising, but life changing. The advice came to me from a Former Miss America. Up until that point I was shy, afraid and ashamed but hearing that sentence was […]
One of my earliest memories is that of standing in the back of my Dad’s bicycle in Afghanistan, holding on to his shoulders and going all over the city. There were bombed buildings, women sitting on the side of the streets with their toddlers begging and war-amputee men trying to wash cars for a small […]
Paul was born on a cold December night in 2004 and from the moment he was born, my heart was flooded with emotions that I never experienced before. I immediately understood what people meant when they said they would give their life for someone else. I immediately understood the phrase unconditional love. I immediately understood […]
One day while at the park, a neighbor of ours who was an 8 year old boy commented on how sad it must be for Tinsley because of her missing fingers. I told him that it didn’t matter because she’s a happy and healthy baby who’s surrounded by so much love. He didn’t appear to agree and repeated how things would […]
When I went in for a foot surgery I never thought it would have had the impact it did on my life. I expected the days after the surgery to be rough, and I was totally prepared for that. I wasn’t prepared for the following six weeks during my recovery period, and how during that […]
“A big life lesson that I have learned in the short time that I have been on this earth, is to not dwell. Find the silver lining in everything that happens to you, and never stop laughing.” ~Mother Teresa Although my name might mislead a bit, I am a mother of five and my name […]
On November 3, 1984, I was born strong and healthy without any signs of impending health complications. Similar to other new parents, my parents were excited for my life full of limitless possibilities. However, unexpectedly a few months later, they would begin endless doctors’ appointments that still continue today. At the age of four, I […]
Rheumatoid Arthritis doesn’t run in my family. Where and why I got it is still an on going mystery. But I did. Growing up I had what my family called “happy hands”. They were always happily doing something. Creating things with my hands, keeping them busy somehow, always relaxed me. Put me in a fabric or […]