Inspiration, motivation, and a reason for pushing through can come from anywhere. The key is to pay attention when it shows up. That’s a big message Michaela DePrince wants to impart to those around her after having one of the rockiest starts in life.
Michaela DePrince’s Tragic Childhood in an Orphanage
When Michaela was born in Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war, she was named Mabinty Bangura. Rebels killed her father and, not knowing what to do, her mother gave Michaela most of the food, and wound up starving to death. The three-year-old girl was sent to an orphanage, where the women tasked with taking care of her quickly deemed her the "least likeable" child.
Michaela was born with a skin condition called vitiligo, in which patches of the skin have no pigmentation. Those patches on her body led the others to call her the “devil’s child,” and of the 27 kids at the orphanage, she was numbered No.27.
RELATED: Doctors Wanted to Put Baby with Down Syndrome in an Institution - 15 Years Later, She Proves Them Wrong
That meant she got the last pick of clothes and food, and as a result, she was lonelier than ever and hungry. “They kept saying, 'Why would somebody want to adopt the devil's child?'” she revealed to NBCNews.
The only way I could survive was… to prove everybody wrong.
Michaela DePrince
How Michaela DePrince Found New Inspiration
At the orphanage, Michaela only had one friend — another girl named Mabinty, who ranked No. 26. The other Mabinty had a low ranking because she was left-handed and wet the bed. The pair looked out for each other and became best friends.
“She was at fault for almost everything in the orphanage,” Michaela’s friend recalled to the publication. “So instead of having her be timed out by herself, we decided that we would both take the blame for it.”
RELATED: Woman Bullied For Being "Too Big" Defies All Expectations By Becoming a Successful Dancer
But then one day the winds brought change. A magazine blew up to the orphanage gates and Michaela reached out to grab it. On the front was a ballerina in full costume. Michaela knew she wanted to be a ballerina too.
“If what she was doing made her happy, that's what I wanted to do… So I took the cover off and I put it in my underwear because that was the only… safe space,” Michaela added.
It was not just the fact that she's a ballerina. It's that she looks happy. And I wanted to be happy.
Michaela DePrince
Despite Michaela’s newfound inspiration, she was about to face another heartbreaking twist in her story. Her favorite teacher, a pregnant woman who explained ballet to Michaela after she found that magazine, was attacked by rebels and killed. The group of men had a bet as to what gender the baby was so they cut her stomach open to find out. A little boy rebel wanted to mimic the older men and he cut Michaela’s stomach too.
“When I got stabbed, I was really hoping — I felt very much alone,” Michaela recounted. “I really wanted to die. I didn't see the point. I didn't think I would have anything good in my life at all. I think it's really sad that a child at three years old already wants to die… I mean, the ballerina on the front of the magazine gave me hope, but it didn't mean that it would be a reality at all.”
The Unexpected Adoption of Michaela DePrince
New Jersey couple Elaine and Charles DePrince were facing a nightmare of their own. They had adopted three American boys and tragically, all three of them died of AIDS from contaminated blood. The mother revealed she was devastated, of course, but she wanted to continue living and loving. One of her sons, Michael, had told her she should adopt from Africa. So the couple sent a photo book to the orphanage where the two Mabintys were. Mabinty No. 26 was chosen.
Then something unexpected happened. The agency called Elaine and asked which Mabinty she was adopting. They also explained how 12 other families had already passed over No. 27 because of her vitiligo. Elaine decided on the spot both girls were coming home with her.
“I said, ‘We'll take her.’ I said ‘I really don't have a problem with spots, after dealing with AIDS.’”
RELATED: Abandoned By Parents, She Vows To Prove Them Wrong – Today, She Models For Vogue
Things were tough at first because of the language barrier and the girls’ distrust of loving anyone after what they had experienced. But Elaine showed compassion, understanding, and unconditional love. She renamed the four-year-olds Mia and Michaela after her late son Michael, the one who had encouraged her to adopt from Africa in the first place. She also asked Michaela what she wanted — a first for the child.
Michaela showed her new mom that magazine cover with the ballerina and began dancing on her own toes.
I couldn't believe that I had adopted an orphan from Africa who wanted pointe shoes! I had to promise her…she would dance.
Elaine DePrince
How Michaela DePrince Fought During Dark Times
These days Michaela is a successful ballerina, a teacher, and a motivational speaker who has shared her story far and wide to help inspire others. Her road was still hard — especially as a young Black girl in America who was experiencing racism both in her neighborhood and at the studios she loved so much. But she never gave up.
By the time she was 17 years old, she became the youngest performer in the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City. Her stardom only grew from there. Michaela became a top-ranked ballerina at the prestigious Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam in her early twenties. And in 2016 Beyoncé hand-picked Michaela to choreograph a dance solo in her “Freedom” music video.
It’s not a fairy tale, you know. You have to work hard. There is a lot of loss, a lot of pain. But you know performing? I love it.
Michaela DePrince
These days one of Michaela’s biggest messages to others is to look for small signs of inspiration, no matter how hard things get. That day at the orphanage a magazine blew her way and changed her life. Who knows what might have happened had she not picked it up?
RELATED: Bullied For Her Dark Skin, She Vows To Love Herself - Now She’s A High-Fashion Model
Not everyone has a backstory like Michaela’s but there are all kinds of hard things in life that people go through. It’s valid to experience a gamut of feelings in the face of adversity, trauma, and tragedy. However, learning to pick yourself up and look for the good — the way both Michaela and Elaine did all those years ago — is what may ultimately help you turn your narrative around.
Something as simple as a song, a painting, a kind gesture or the way the sun shines on the trees may one day be the inspiration you need in your life too. The important part is to pick up on that small moment and not brush it off. Because as Michaela and even Elaine prove with their stories, you never know how a small moment of inspiration could change your future for the better.
KEEP READING:
Abandoned In Dumpster As Baby, He Vows To Make Adoptive Dad Proud - Now He's A Millionaire
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.