Models used to be slender, tall, fair-skinned, and had wavy or straight hair. But Melanie Gaydos is one of the few people who has the audacity to defy social norms. The 32-year-old model is not only pushing the fashion industry, but also emphasizing the value of diversity in the cosmetics sector. And as she does so, Gaydos tells her tale, which we believe is worth hearing.
She was born with a rare genetic condition.
Melanie Gaydos, 32, was born on the east coast and now lives in Seattle. She was born with ectodermal dysplasia, which refers to a group of exceedingly rare genetic diseases that impact skin, hair, and nail growth. She was brutally criticized for her beauty when she was younger, but that did not prevent her from becoming a well-known model and working in a variety of industries.
“I really don’t like being told I can’t do something.”
Gaydos started modeling while attending Pratt Institute in New York City. She garnered even more notice after participating in a Rammstein song video, and offers continued to come in after that. Her unique features are excellent for high fashion and avant-garde designs. She has, however, rejected being labeled as an alternative model and has taken part in a number of New York Fashion Week runway events.
Her fame didn’t come easy.
She loves and accepts herself the way she is.
She suffers from hearing loss due to the little bones in her ears. She does not have any teeth or hair. She used to wear wigs but stopped doing so in 2015, as well as dentures. Instead, she has decided to accept herself. “This is the way I was born, and when you are born a certain way, you survive,” she tells me.
“I was never, ever bothered by the way that I look.”
She recalls her early years: “I couldn’t understand why people treated me differently. It’s literally a DNA disorder. It’s just how my physique was born. It hasn’t changed how I think or anything like that.” But Gaydos feels things are improving. The fashion industry and the general public both have a different notion of beauty than “the tall, perfect goddess” image.
She encourages other women to embrace their beauty.
Gaydos must find it odd that other women are concerned about things like their thigh gaps, hair curls, and fatty rolls around their belly. “Everyone has their own insecurities. It’s quite restrictive and disheartening to be concerned about what other people look like and what they think of us,” she says. “I don’t see why people can’t just be happy with themselves and be happy for other people.”
