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Melanie Gaydos

As a girl she hated being photographed, but today she is a world-class supermodel. She suffered (and still does) from a very rare genetic disorder, ectodermal dysplasia, which prevents proper development of teeth, pores, nails and bones. In addition, she is partially blind and bald due to a disease called alopecia. Yet it is precisely her unique appearance that has enchanted photographers around the world. So much so that today Melanie Gaydos is part of that fierce group of models who daily challenge traditional aesthetic standards with a revolutionary message: there is no single type of beauty.

Before she learned to feel good about herself, Melanie went through many difficult times. At the age of four she realized that other children had hair and she did not, so she began wearing a wig. But she did not find it comfortable and felt more comfortable without it. She was also often the target of bullies and resented the feeling of always having people’s eyes on her. When she was sixteen, she fell into depression and began to think about suicide. Then he went to study art in New York and things began to get better. In particular, his life changed after he answered an ad targeting “unique” looking models. A short time later a very famous fashion photographer, Spaniard Eugenio Recuenco, also wanted to immortalize her.

Through her modeling, Melanie has also had the opportunity to better understand who she is. She no longer wears wigs and has refused dental implants. When someone asks her how she eats without teeth, she says, “There are people without legs who run marathons. It’s just a matter of perspective.”

She never thought she would travel around the world as a model, and the idea that her success can encourage many people makes her happy. And today she is finally able to say, “I like myself exactly the way I am.”

Excerpted from Extraordinary Lives
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