I'm 16 not 60

16-year-old girl Zara Harshorn from the English city of Rotherham suffered for many years from peer bullying, ridicule behind her back and even physical abuse. And all because, due to a rare genetic disease, she looks not at 16, but at 60! Zara suffers from lipodystrophy, which causes her skin to appear wrinkled and saggy. She inherited the disease from her mother, Tracey Gibson. However, recently the girl had a real chance: the chief surgeon of a hospital in the United States, having heard about her grief, decided to do plastic surgery for her ... for free. Now "rejuvenated" Zara is building a relationship with a new boyfriend, Ricky Andrews, and even intends to go to college.

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1. For many years, Zara lived in fear and constant ridicule. She was put off the bus more than once because she could not prove that she had the full right to travel on a children's pass. Already at the age of 12, she was mistaken for an adult woman, often for the mother of neighboring children.

2. But now, thanks to the operation she had in the USA, Zara is almost no different from her peers. She dreams of opening her own beauty salon in the future and is ready to forget all grievances and forgive offenders. “I don’t get turned around on the street anymore. Finally, I feel like a teenager."

3. Her newfound self-confidence allowed her to start a relationship with 22-year-old Ricky. “He had seen my pictures before and said that I had always been beautiful. Only before, because of my insecurities, I could not believe it.”

4. At the age of 4, doctors diagnosed her with lipodystrophy, a disease that she adopted from her mother. “Mom explained that I had the same disease as her, but said that I was beautiful and should not pay attention to what others say.”

5. “The worst was the period from 8 to 10 years. I was teased as a monkey and an old woman, and even beaten a few times because I was not like the others. For a while, I didn't even want to leave the house. I lived in constant fear of being asked how old I was.”

6. “A couple of times I was even mistaken for a teacher at school, and it was especially humiliating in front of my classmates.”

7. “The operation was an incredible opportunity for me, which I could not even dream of. When I removed the bandages and saw myself in the mirror, I was overwhelmed by a wave of surprise and happiness. I used to hate my nose, but now I love it."

8. “Mom never dreamed of such a thing. I want to live a decent life so that she is proud of me. I know this disease hasn't gone away and it might make me live less, but at least I feel like a real teenager now. Even though I look younger, I still feel older because of what I've been through."