This is how the enchanting fairy tale by Afanasyev begins, featuring a princess who, for a long time, could not be made to laugh—until a simple worker succeeded in doing so. But if you think that such serious young ladies exist only in fairy tales, let me surprise you: there is a psychological disorder known as Moebius syndrome.

Meet Tayla Clement, a 25-year-old from New Zealand. When she was born, doctors were taken aback to discover that she was completely incapable of smiling. And no, it’s not because she wasn’t happy to enter the world.

This was because she was born with a very rare condition (affecting just 1% of the global population) that results in underdeveloped facial nerves responsible for facial expressions and eye movements. Essentially, it is a form of paralysis. At the time, there were no doctors capable of relieving her of this ailment and restoring her facial mobility. Tayla had to learn to live with a serious expression, while her parents came to terms with the fact that their daughter would never delight them with her cheerful laughter.

Afterward, she would return home, lock herself in her room, and cry for a long time. She skipped school for several weeks, afraid of her classmates’ mockery. Before undergoing surgery, she told them she would return as an ordinary child, capable of smiling and laughing.

Eventually, she went back to school, diligently studied, and occasionally attempted to take her own life. In six years, she tried six times, and each time she was saved.Gradually, she became more self-assured. The teasing lessened, and she even made some friends. At some point, a recruiter from a modeling agency stumbled upon her profile and offered Tayla a contract. Now, she spends much of her time on photo shoots, traveling the world, and can hardly believe this is happening to her.