Model With Rare Genetic Disorder: Inspirational Melanie Gaydos Became Top Fashion Model

Melanie Gaydos, 27, was born with ectodermal dysplasia, a genetic disorder that affects the growth of teeth, pores, cartilage, nails and even small bones.
The condition means she is bald, and doesn't have any adult teeth.

Melanie, a Connecticut native, talked to Yahoo! Style about getting her start in modeling, dealing with negative comments - and why she refuses to wear dental implants despite not having any teeth.

'People are more comfortable when I have teeth in my mouth,' she said, before adding: 'But I’m not.'

Melanie also has a bilateral cleft palette and alopecia, which inhibits natural hair growth.

Her form of alopecia causes ingrown hairs, and as a child, unchecked eyelash growth damaged her corneas and resulted in partial blindness.

Having spent years dealing with the symptoms of her condition, it wasn't until she was 26 that Melanie, who counts Miley Cyrus among her fans, got her first set of false teeth, while appearing on the medical talk show The Doctors.

But Melanie stopped wearing the dentures only eight months after the episode aired, saying that, although she thought getting teeth would be 'life-changing', she was actually happier the way she was.

Of her inspiration to become a model, Melanie revealed:
'I always had this fascination of being larger than life. I wanted to be on a billboard or on a big movie screen.'

'I think it helps other people to see me in a different way rather than if they met me on the street, and what their preconceived notions might be,' she explained.

Eventually, a boyfriend convinced her to try modeling:
'He helped me to understand that I am the only person who looks like me, that there was potential.'

When asked if she is bitter about her disorder, Melanie said:

'No. It doesn’t bother me, and it never did. Or if it did, it’s because it was something people were telling me I should be upset about.'

'People used to ask me: How do you eat without teeth?
Well, people with no legs run marathons.'

Music by Kevin MacLeod /Sunshine A/
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Blog: http://amazingworldnewsnow.blogspot.com
Melanie Gaydos, 27, was born with ectodermal dysplasia, a genetic disorder that affects the growth of teeth, pores, cartilage, nails and even small bones.
The condition means she is bald, and doesn't have any adult teeth.

Melanie, a Connecticut native, talked to Yahoo! Style about getting her start in modeling, dealing with negative comments - and why she refuses to wear dental implants despite not having any teeth.

'People are more comfortable when I have teeth in my mouth,' she said, before adding: 'But I’m not.'

Melanie also has a bilateral cleft palette and alopecia, which inhibits natural hair growth.

Her form of alopecia causes ingrown hairs, and as a child, unchecked eyelash growth damaged her corneas and resulted in partial blindness.

Having spent years dealing with the symptoms of her condition, it wasn't until she was 26 that Melanie, who counts Miley Cyrus among her fans, got her first set of false teeth, while appearing on the medical talk show The Doctors.

But Melanie stopped wearing the dentures only eight months after the episode aired, saying that, although she thought getting teeth would be 'life-changing', she was actually happier the way she was.

Of her inspiration to become a model, Melanie revealed:
'I always had this fascination of being larger than life. I wanted to be on a billboard or on a big movie screen.'

'I think it helps other people to see me in a different way rather than if they met me on the street, and what their preconceived notions might be,' she explained.

Eventually, a boyfriend convinced her to try modeling:
'He helped me to understand that I am the only person who looks like me, that there was potential.'

When asked if she is bitter about her disorder, Melanie said:

'No. It doesn’t bother me, and it never did. Or if it did, it’s because it was something people were telling me I should be upset about.'

'People used to ask me: How do you eat without teeth?
Well, people with no legs run marathons.'

Music by Kevin MacLeod /Sunshine A/
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Blog: http://amazingworldnewsnow.blogspot.com