Model With Rare Genetic Disorder Smashes Fashion Stereotypes

#1

Melanie Gaydos proved to the world that beauty isn’t a requirement when it comes to modeling. And that no one can tell you what to do based on your looks.

#2

This brave woman definitely took the fashion industry by storm. Melanie Gaydos uses her rare genetic disorder to break fashion stereotypes.

#3

Melanie Gaydos is a courageous young woman who faced the fashion industry and won.

#4

Her disorder in scientific terms is called ectodermal dysplasia, and she is living with this disease from the day she was born. This extremely rare genetic condition prevents teeth, nails, pores, cartilage, and bones from developing.

#5

From Jillian Mercado to Caitlin Stickels, Gaydos is just one of many models who is challenging narrow beauty standards and transforming the modelling industry with success.

#6

Melanie, a Connecticut native, talked to Yahoo! Style about getting her start in modeling, dealing with negative comments - and why she refuses to wear dental implants despite not having any teeth.

#7

'People are more comfortable when I have teeth in my mouth,' she said, before adding: 'But I’m not.'

#8

Melanie also has a bilateral cleft palette and alopecia, which inhibits natural hair growth.

#9

Her form of alopecia causes ingrown hairs, and as a child, unchecked eyelash growth damaged her corneas and resulted in partial blindness.

#10

Having spent years dealing with the symptoms of her condition, it wasn't until she was 26 that Melanie, who counts Miley Cyrus among her fans, got her first set of false teeth while appearing on the medical talk show The Doctors.

But Melanie stopped wearing the dentures only eight months after the episode aired, saying that, although she thought getting teeth would be 'life-changing', she was actually happier the way she was.

#11

Her goal is to revolutionize the way people look at the fashion industry, that it’s not only about having a beautiful face and a perfect body.

#12

One of the popular photographers Gaydos worked with is Eugenio Recuenco from Spain.

#13

She is a big Miley Cyrus fan, and she’s hoping she can work with her someday.

#14

Her first appearance was in a music video from a German metal band named Rammstein.

#15

Interestingly, the video was directed by Recuenco. This jump started their relationship and her modeling career.

#16

Of her inspiration to become a model, Melanie revealed: 'I always had this fascination of being larger than life. I wanted to be on a billboard or on a big movie screen.'

#17

Eventually, a boyfriend convinced her to try modeling. Melanie recalled: 'He helped me to understand that I am the only person who looks like me, that there was potential.'

#18

'I think it helps other people to see me in a different way rather than if they met me on the street, and what their preconceived notions might be,' she explained.

#19

When asked if she is bitter about her disorder, Melanie said: 'No. It doesn’t bother me, and it never did. Or if it did, it’s because it was something people were telling me I should be upset about.'

#20

She added: 'People used to ask me: How do you eat without teeth? Well, people with no legs run marathons. It’s all a matter of perception.'

#21

Melanie said that the amount of positive feedback she received made her “speechless.” This encouraged Melanie to pursue modeling.

#22

Her success eventually brought change to the fashion industry.

#23

She no longer wears wigs ever since she started modeling.

#24

Her experience helped her become “stronger and happier” with her entire existence.