COURTNEY BLACKMORE: O say can you see, by the dawn's early light.
COMM: Singer Courtney Blackmore was born with
a rare condition that causes extra tissue growth in her face.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: So, I was born with cystic
hygroma, which is a rare birth defect that affects the lymphatic system and creates extra
tissue and a growth. My growth was on my chin and it deformed my jaw when I was in the womb
so that is why I cannot close my mouth.
KATRINA BLACKMORE: And that was eight grade.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: I have had many surgeries,
over 20 surgeries in my lifetime. At the moment, I do not plan to have any more because it
can be dangerous. As long as I don’t have to have one right now, I won’t.
COMM: Despite often being met with nasty and
negative comments, the 20-year-old regularly uploads videos of herself singing to YouTube.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: Singing is one of my outlets.
It’s my outlet for, if I was being bullied or going through a rough time, it was the
way that I could express myself.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: People ask me in person,
why do you upload, what’s the point in uploading?
If you know you are different, you know you are gonna get hate.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: For me it’s an outlet.
It’s an expression of me and for me it doesn’t matter what people say, it’s my choice.
If you don’t like it you can go, you can click the next video. Hey, guys, whats up?
I am going to be singing Beautiful by Christina Aguilera, and this song has been requested a lot.
COMM: When Courtney started posting videos
online her parents were worried about how people might react.
KATRINA BLACKMORE: She’s faced more things
in a short amount of time in her lifetime then anybody should have to.
KATRINA BLACKMORE: I know she’s cried plenty
of times. I know she’s had so much support though that overweighs all the bullies that
are out there. I have a hard, I think I have more of a hard time with it than she does.
COMM: Dreams are beginning to come true for
Courtney, as well as amassing a legion of fans online, she and her boyfriend Chad are
now planning a wedding.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: Was I worried that I would
never find love? Yes, I was afraid that there wasn’t going to be someone that would accept
me and love me, for me.
CHAD: My first impressions of Courtney when
I first met her, she is beautiful, smart, she is talented, amazing.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: Hello! It's recording.
Chad: I’m in the middle of things.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: Then get off the phone.
Think you guys can see me hopefully.
Chad: Yes, yes. Tip tip tell yo.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: Chad is an amazing person
and amazing guy. He is so funny, always keeps me laughing. On my days that I feel really
really down, he is there to push me up and makes me laugh and makes me happy.
CHAD: We like to go riding together, we ride our horses.
CHAD: We watch movies, go on walks, go swimming,
we do everything together.
COMM: Courtney hopes that her videos will
help to bring more acceptance for people living with her condition.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: I just want to say thank
you for all you guys have done for me. You guys have given me more confidence and bravery
than I have ever had.
KATRINA BLACKMORE: When I see Courtney singing,
I feel excited that she can do that. If I sing, it sounds like all the dogs in the neighbourhood
are going to join in. So, to hear her sing is amazing. She has a beautiful voice.
LARRY BLACKMORE: Life is not easy and Courtney
has proven that even under adversity, she still perseveres.
COURTNEY BLACKMORE: It’s been really really
hard to just accept myself and accept the way I look. I’ve always wanted to look normal,
but there is no normal nowadays. It’s ok to be different, it’s ok that I look different.
For me this is normal and that’s ok and I am ok with being who I am.