Unbreakable Spirit: Brittle Bone Blogger Stands For Beauty In All Shapes and Sizes

The 18-year-old, who measures 2ft 6ins in height, has broken over 90 bones in her body and was left feeling isolated in school.

But now trendy Michaela inspires her 30,000 YouTube subscribers with beauty and fashion vlogs and inspires other girls to do away with traditional beauty standards and embrace their differences.

Michaela, from Michigan, USA, said: “We all face challenges and I want people to know that they can get through it and enjoy life’s joys.

"I want girls to know they are beautiful just the way they are.

“I have had people tell me that I am ugly or I am fat and I don’t care because we are all made how god wants us to be and I am perfectly okay with that.

“The fact that people all over the world are watching me is just awesome.”

Michaela suffers from a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which means her bones are extremely brittle and break very easily.

Michaela said: “I have had nearly about 90 fractures in my entire lifetime and about 25 surgeries. The main bones that I have broken are my arms and my legs.

“When I was younger, I broke very easily. People were afraid to even get near me. I pretty much fractured like a piece of chalk. But now, as I have got older, my bones have got stronger which helps. But overall, my bones are still very fragile.”

During her school years, Michaela struggled to make friends, but since launching her YouTube channel, FunsizedStyle, nearly five years ago, her popularity has soared.

Michaela said: “I think that kids growing up didn’t really understand the condition, so making friends and being around friends was a little bit harder.

“I saw other girls making these videos and I always enjoyed watching them and then I thought ‘Why can’t I make those videos too?'

“You never really see girls with disabilities in the make-up profession so I wanted to change that and be a new face and a role model to younger girls and just have fun with it.

“It’s been one of the best decisions of my life.”

Now Michaela has over 30,000 subscribers on her channel and over 1.6million views – and her biggest fan is her mum, Melissa, who also has the condition.

Melissa, a retired disability advocate, said: “I’m very proud of her because I know she has positively affected the lives of many people through her YouTube channel.

“We all have challenges in life and some are visible and some are invisible and with Michaela and I, our challenges are really visible.

"I think Michaela inspires people because she is overcoming life’s challenges and living a happy life and so maybe in some ways that can help others think the same.”

Melissa and Michaela’s dad, Kenneth, who has cerebral palsy, have always encouraged Michaela to live an independent life.

She currently has metal rods in her limbs and uses a wheelchair, but she refuses to let the condition hold her back, and as well as running her YouTube channel, Michaela is also studying for a degree in marketing.

Now Michaela is thinking about her future, and she has big plans for her life and career after she finishes university.

Michaela said: “I want to move to LA and set up a clothing line for people of my size. Currently I have to buy children’s clothes and Disney print and sparkles aren't ideal for every occasion.

“I hope I can inspire people to follow their dreams and live big – nothing can hold me back.

“The advice I would give to other people in a similar situation is don’t let your medical condition or disability be a excuse or stand in your way.

“You might have to do things differently but that’s okay. I am exceeding all kind of limitations already so if there is something that you want to accomplish in this world then definitely go for it.”

To see more of Michaela’s beauty and fashion vlogs, visit her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/FunsizedStyle