Italian Beauty Queen Bares Disfigured Face Since Acid Attack Caused by Ex-Boyfriend.

‘Acid violence is a worldwide phenomenon that is not limited to any religion,color, race or national origin.’ There are thousands of victims or patients of acid attack all over the world but as the numbers continue to grow, many such cases are still left unaccounted for. More victims of violent assault are too afraid to come forward, identify or even bring their perpetrators to justice because of fear, discrimination and psychological trauma.

But not Gessica Notaro. As posted by Shared, the 27-year-old Italian beauty queen has a promising life ahead of her and a thriving career as an aquatic worker. But everything took a bad turn when her relationship with then boyfriend Jorge Edson Tavares ended. Tavares, who denied the accusations, allegedly went to Notaro’s house and ambushed her. Her jilted ex had acid thrown in her face, leaving it disfigured. She had to be confined in a hospital room for months, was only allowed to talk to her visitors through a window glass and her mom had to be sterilized first before she could enter the room.

While waiting for her surgery, Notaro had to take eye drops and lotion to alleviate the pain. She also spends £600 monthly for medication.

Here she is before the harrowing incident.

Meanwhile, Notaro was recently invited in Canale 5’s Maurizio Costanzo show where she talked about her ordeal. Since the incident, she has kept her face under wraps but decided to bare it all on national TV.

‘While the acid ate away at my face I was on my knees praying. I prayed to God: take away my beauty but at least leave me with my sight,’ she said, recalling what happened.

Despite being told that she can cover her face with a scarf if she wants, she decided otherwise.

‘I want you to see what he did to me. This isn’t love,’ she bravely said.

Aside from her unwavering courage, the aspiring singer also remains optimistic.

‘My face is ruined but my facial features are still there. My mouth is intact. So is my nose. I still recognize myself in the mirror. This eye should have been blind but it isn’t.’

‘And the most important thing I found out that night is that my voice is still there. I risked losing it as the acid ended up in my mouth, but I was alert enough to spit it out.’

Meanwhile, Tavares is now behind bars and will remain there while he awaits trial.

As for Notaro, she may be scarred for life because of trauma the attack has caused her but she continues to be an inspiration not only to the victims of the same violence but to everyone who needs a flicker of hope and courage to continue living and loving life.