«At 8 Years Old I Could Not Leave House Without Makeup.» Model With Giant Birthmark Revealed a True Story of Self Love

Meet Carlotta Bertotti, a young woman who, for years, concealed her true self beneath layers of makeup. A blue-gray spot covered half of her face, but as Carlotta’s journey unfolded, she realized that what she once considered a flaw has now become an essential part of her identity.

A battle that started at an early age.

The presence of a blue-gray patch, characterized by the Nevus of Ota, indicates a harmless skin condition. Now, Turin model and activist Carlotta Bertotti learned to love herself only a few years ago. Because, as she confessed, there is a Charlotte before the age of 18, and one later.

She shared: «At 8 years old I made the decision to wear makeup. It was not a normal makeup, but two-hour sessions early in the morning. It was like I put on my armor to show myself to the world. Without makeup, I could not leave the house. Because no one liked me: I felt wrong».

But after a few years, this world of fictions became untenable for her. «When I wore makeup, I didn’t just cover my face, but I wore a different personality. And it was impossible to relate in a genuine way, even to fall in love,» she says. «Quitting makeup was just the tip of the iceberg. What I had to do was learn to love myself».

Carlotta’s struggle extended beyond her physical appearance. At the tender age of 12, she was diagnosed with meningioma, a benign tumor that left her face paralyzed and made her health destabilized. Her battle for survival put her into darkness, shattering her confidence and self-worth. She remembers waking up in intensive care after two weeks of medically induced coma, and her face was paralyzed. She recalled that moment as seeing a monster in the mirror.

Her teenage years and feeling unwanted.

Throughout her teenage years, Carlotta was filled with insecurities, resorting to desperate measures in order to look like her peers. From elaborate makeup routines to customized contact lenses, she found rescue in brief solutions, only to be met with disappointment and anguish. She admitted trying everything to fit in. But no matter what she did, she felt like an outsider, unworthy of love and acceptance.

A failed romance that deepened her insecurities.

Carlotta’s romantic relationships mirrored her deep-seated insecurities, as she found herself entangled in a toxic dynamic with a man thirteen years older than her. Their love was suffocating, marked by possessiveness and perpetual betrayals that she reluctantly endured. Desperate for validation and acceptance, she bent over backward to accommodate his every desire, convinced that it was the only path to love.

Yet, instead of affirming her worth, he incessantly chipped away at her self-esteem, criticizing even the most trivial aspects of her appearance. His hurtful words echoed in her mind, igniting a self-destructive cycle of doubt and inadequacy. She internalized his infidelity as a reflection of her own shortcomings, fulling herself with a feeling of unworthiness.

Until she finally found her voice.

Yet, amidst the darkness, a flicker of hope emerged. In 2018, Carlotta made a pivotal decision—to embrace her imperfections and share her story with the world. Since then, she has garnered a devoted following on social media, captivating audiences with her authenticity and resilience. Her journey culminated in the release of her book, “Incancellabile”, a proof of the power of self-love and acceptance.

Today, Carlotta stands tall, a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals navigating their own battles with self-image and identity. Her message to all is that there will come a day when everyone understands to be deserving of love. A moment when you realize that you gave too much importance to things that had none.

Carlotta’s inspiring story encourages many people to embrace their unique look, despite the fear of not being loved, bullied or criticized.