Her life changed in seconds: That's why this woman wears a mask
Australia - A cruise with her family was supposed to be the highlight of 2019. Stephanie Coral Browitt had no idea that the trip would completely turn her life upside down - forever!
Everyone was on board: father, mother, sister and the then 23-year-old Stephanie. But when the Australians stopped on the neighboring island of New Zealand, an accident happened.
Stephanie was visiting the volcanic island of White Island with her father and sister (her mother had to stay on the ship due to her multiple sclerosis).
Suddenly, smoke rose and the mountain of fire spewed gas and magma. The travel party quickly realized that something was wrong and the family ran for their lives. "It all happened so quickly that we had no chance of escaping," Stephanie recently said in an interview with People. Six years after the terrible incident, the now 28-year-old remembers back.
As she fled from death, she had to think of her mother, who was unsuspectingly waiting on the ship for her loved ones: "She needs us, I have to survive for her," were her thoughts.
Courage and perseverance paid off in the end. The Australian woman escaped the lava hell, but her father and sister were unable to save themselves and perished.
Stephanie shows herself in a bikini again for the first time after an accident
Stephanie was hospitalized for six months after her accident
A completely new life began for Stephanie after the accident. A large part of her body - including her face - was burnt and eight of her fingers had to be removed. The young woman spent six months in hospital, underwent countless operations and had new skin transplanted.
"It took time to learn to love myself in my new skin," said the 28-year-old. She had to wear a mask and gloves to protect her new "shell". Then, a week ago, the big step: Stephanie showed herself in a bikini for the first time after her long ordeal.
"When I put it on, I was nervous and felt my heart racing," says the Australian. However, the excitement quickly subsided and Stephanie enjoyed her time at a spa in France afterwards, where she was pampered.
She has since accepted her situation for what it is. "I'm not ashamed of how I look, I'm proud of it," said the 28-year-old. And she shows it. More than two million people now follow her on Instagram and TikTok .