Everyone has their own opinions, but it’s often wiser to keep them private. Recently, a 76-year-old fashion influencer stirred up some mixed reactions after posting a photo of herself in a sleeveless, knee-length dress. Although the post received numerous comments, not all were flattering.
Candace Cima, a grandmother of 11, showcased her style in a sleeveless brown knit dress paired with a cozy sweater in a video. While many praised her for embracing fashion at her age, others were critical of her outfit choice.
Some comments expressed that the dress did not suit her figure, suggesting that a tighter fit below the waist was unflattering. Others shared their disapproval, stating that they wouldn’t wear such a dress and felt it was inappropriate for someone of her age to show so much skin.
Cima responded to the negativity by affirming that it’s completely natural to have wrinkled skin at her age and expressed her lack of shame regarding it. She pondered whether she should also cover her face simply because of the wrinkles.
Having launched her fashion blog in 2019, Cima identified a gap in representation for older women in the fashion world. She recognized a need to discuss how to dress confidently as one ages, challenging the notion that women must hide their bodies as they grow older.
Cima advocates for a shift in the perception of aging, emphasizing that it’s unnecessary to hold on to outdated beliefs in today’s society.
Despite the harsh comments she received, Cima chose to focus on the positive and offer encouragement to her younger followers. She highlighted the joys of aging, reminding them that the wisdom accumulated over a lifetime is something to be cherished and celebrated.
A baby girl who ‘never stops smiling’ is living with a rare skin condition that makes her skin crack
Those nine months a mom carries her baby are filled with joy, anticipation, and a dose of uncertainty. What the new parents hope for is their bundle of joy to be healthy. Sadly, that is not always the case.
Jennie Wilklow, from Highland, New York, couldn’t wait to meet her daughter. She and her husband were over the moon to hold her in their arms. All the ultrasounds and doctor’s appointment suggested the baby was healthy, so they were eased and never thought sweet Anna would be born with a condition that would change all of their lives forever.
Jennie delivered Anna via C-section at 34 weeks. Doctors told her she looked beautiful and that was all Jennie needed to hear at that point.
Shortly after, the proud mom heard her daughter cry, and that was just another sign that everything was right with her little jewel.
When her husband visited Jennie, he was strangely silent and looked worried and puzzled.
“My husband’s silence scared me; he just sat in shock as the doctor left, and I prodded for more info,” Jennie shared with Cafe Mom.
“He just kept saying, ‘It’s bad.’ What does that even mean? I thought in my head. He told me, ‘Jennie, I looked in her eyes, and she has the most beautiful soul.’”
Anna was diagnosed with harlequin ichthyosis, a rare condition that causes thick diamond-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks. “As they tried frantically to help her, her skin hardened within seconds (of birth). After hardening, it began to split, causing open wounds all over her body,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
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Although doctors weren’t sure she would survive, Anna beat the odds and is thriving. “She was beauty in the purest form,” her mom said.
There isn’t cure, and the treatment is quite demanding as it requires constant baths and keeping the skin as much moisturized as possible. “Every couple of hours I covered her with Vaseline and bathed her for many hours of the day. I had dreamed for years about the things my baby would wear, and though it seemed so trivial, it was what I struggled with most,” Jennie said.
In an attempt to raise awareness about this condition, Jennie posts photos of Anna on her Instagram page harlequindiva. She opens up about the everyday struggles and what it is like to have a child with harlequin ichthyosis.
“Anna captured everyone’s hearts because she is the purest form of perfection. Doing the work every day is simple when I’m doing it for her, and with every new accomplishment, the world celebrates with me,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
She adds, “I now understand that I was given her because of the love I already carried in my heart for my daughter. Anna was meant for me, and I for her, and together we will show the world what true beauty is.”
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