THE MODEL WHO CAN'T SMILE

She was bullied to the brink of suicide due to her condition, but now Tayla Clement is an inspiration to others

- KIM ABRAHAMS

SHE’S unable to curl the corners of her mouth into a smile, raise her eyebrows in surprise or even move her eyes from side to side.

Yet despite these challenges, Tayla Clement is the new face of top

international modelling agency Zebedee Talent.

The 24-year-old, who lives in New Zealand, was born with moebius syndrome, a condition characterized by facial paralysis caused by underdeveloped nerves.

Tayla was bullied so badly by others at school because of her stiff, expressionless face she attempted to take her life on several occasions.

“I had such severe depression that doctors told me my mental health was as bad as a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder,” she recalls.

But that timid and insecure teenager doesn’t exist anymore. Tayla isn’t just breaking barriers in the modeling industry, she’s also inspired herself with her newfound confidence.

“I think little Tayla would be so proud,” she says.

WHEN she was growing up Tayla became accustomed to the taunts thrown her way but the name-calling escalated to physical assaults after an operation to repair the damaged nerves in her face was unsuccessful.