It was a day of September, last year, when I visited Barton...

It was a day of September, last year, when I visited Barton Spring, in Austin, USA. This is a place where people come to relax and swim. Looking around, at all those perfect bodies and the splendid landscape, you could feel like on the set of a photo shoot for a glamorous magazine.But for me beauty is much more than that. When I noticed Veronize and her serene expression I instantly knew that I want to photograph her. Veronize was mega surprised of my proposal. But she was equally thrilled. By chance that was the first time in her life when she was wearing a two pieces swimsuit. Sometimes things happens for a reason and maybe that’s why I was there, in that day of September. Veronize just started to work on accepting her body and that was one of the first steps. But on the way there were many years of struggles. Her parents emigrated to the States from the Dominican Republic, dreaming that their daughter will have a better life. They created a unique name for her, combining their owns, Veronica and Ezekiel.Veronize was bullied since she remembers. She was only 12 years old when somebody spread a rumour in her school that she was pregnant. And that was just one of the dozens of episodes when she was humiliated because of her body.  But with all the suffering, she remained a kind hearted person. Love was her answer to all the hate. Today she works in a holistic shop and she seems the kind of nurturing person who takes care of her beloved ones whenever are in need. Dear Veronize, not only that you have a special and beautiful name, but you are also a special and beautiful woman.