Ilka Brühl

Ilka Brühl was born with ectodermal dysplasia, a rare facial defect. The 27-year old model from Germany has faced many challenges growing up, not only physical, but mostly mental and social. As a kid, it’s hard to acknowledge that you’re different, and embracing your individuality is even harder.

When she was born, she couldn’t breathe properly through her nose, and her eyes were tearing involuntarily, and so Ilka had to overcomes difficult surgeries. Her facial defect remained as it was, but she could finally live normally and without pain. After the physical struggle was over, she faced a much harder one: an ongoing emotional struggle. Finally, she has managed to emerge as a confident woman, and is now working as a model with the hope of reminding the world that everyone is beautiful.