"Victim of bullying because of facial palsy": Camilla Mancini tells her story

The young dancer and model tells how her life was changed by the illness that struck her when she was eight.

"I was always a victim of bullying, I was ashamed": now Camilla Mancini has chosen to tell how her life changed after she was struck by facial palsy

It all started with a cold, then came a sudden paralysis of half of her face. Camilla Mancini was eight years old and she didn't know what was happening to her. Doctors diagnosed her with facial palsy, a condition that can affect anyone at any age, but is most common in children under the age of 15. The muscles on one side of the face become weak or paralyzed, making it difficult to smile, blink, or close the eye on the affected side.

For Camilla, facial palsy meant months of physical therapy and endless teasing. "I was always a victim of bullying," she recalls, "I was ashamed of my face and I didn't want to go out. I felt like a freak." The bullying got so bad that Camilla eventually dropped out of school. "I couldn't take it anymore," she says, "I just wanted to hide away from the world." But Camilla didn't give up. She started to see a therapist and she began to learn to accept herself for who she is.

Now, Camilla is a successful dancer and model. She has appeared in magazines, on television, and in music videos. She is also an advocate for people with facial palsy. She speaks out about her experiences to help others to understand the condition and to end the stigma associated with it. "I want people to know that they're not alone," she says, "and that they can achieve anything they set their minds to."

Camilla's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows us that we can overcome anything, no matter what obstacles we face. She is a role model for people with disabilities and for anyone who has ever been bullied. Her story is a reminder that we are all beautiful, no matter what we look like.