Sophia Hadjipanteli is a 21-year-old model, and since people are asking for confirmation, yes, she has a unibrow. And she's proud of it. Why shouldn't she be?
Sophia proudly embraces her signature brow, nicknamed "Veronica," and was inspired by her family and Greek heritage. She told New York Magazine, "They had a unibrow, like, no problem. It wasn't even a thing. That's what inspired me."
The University of Maryland marketing graduate confronted the stigma associated with hirsute models, referring to insults like "disgusting" or "gross."
"What is disgusting about hair on your face? Or anywhere?" she challenged her critics.
@GMB As long as she feels happy and confident that’s all that matters xx— Tracey (@Tracey) 1527746184.0
The Daily Mail elaborated on her rebellious youth growing up in Cypress before immigrating to America.
Ever since I was little I've always been quite different, just either my style or the way I acted.
I was always on my own in terms of school and growing up. I was very quirky and with all of that I just wanted to push some sort of boundary.
I did this before anyone really knew who I was really and it was nothing to do with getting attention or anything like that.
this model’s unibrow divided the internet https://t.co/OKEzjwa7m6 https://t.co/g2YrnIpHAH— i-D (@i-D) 1522154924.0
That built-in confidence allowed her to forge her own path in the industry, and it's paying off. Fans immediately gravitated toward her unconventional way of challenging beauty norms with her bushy brows. She's amassed more than 160,000 Instagram followers since making headlines.
I've always been known to change my look and do whatever I really wanted. And I guess that sort of stubbornness and rebelliousness has made me do literally whatever I want.
It wasn't always easy. She's had her struggles as well.
This model has been sent death threats for modelling with a unibrow https://t.co/c1saYdnMJv https://t.co/ououexO36Y— i newspaper (@i newspaper) 1522772100.0
@theipaper Death threats? Geez what is wrong with people? It’s her life, she’s happy and that’s all that matters, i… https://t.co/1vd5EfVQQ0— squidge (@squidge) 1527786278.0
She's emotionally in a much better place.
it is crazy how a few years ago I would come home every single day from university crying to my parents to not make… https://t.co/6weyD7YhyK— Sophia Hadjipanteli (@Sophia Hadjipanteli) 1526006450.0
I was in the worst place when I started university - and I feel like I am in such an incredible place on my last day.— Sophia Hadjipanteli (@Sophia Hadjipanteli) 1526006558.0
One of the people in this photo has been in Vogue magazine. I am not that person. Cool morning filming with Insta… https://t.co/YpiV82glZl— Chris Hitchings (@Chris Hitchings) 1527749999.0
Unibrow model insists she’s delighted by negative and shocked reactions to her bushy features https://t.co/G2vjhHgtaE— Daily Mail U.K. (@Daily Mail U.K.) 1527764406.0
Ignorance was still rampant on Twitter, where users called her "absolutely horrific looking" and "Yeah the reason we don't progress is because of unibrows."
But others supported the model and combated the ignorant comments.
@IamAhmicqui @Flymusic77 @NYMag No, it’s because you’re so focused on looks that you’re put off by anything that do… https://t.co/93rTOBEcOP— KentuckyWallChicken (@KentuckyWallChicken) 1527788540.0
@IamAhmicqui @Flymusic77 @NYMag Just because nobody agrees with me doesn’t mean I’m not right. Maybe my heart is ju… https://t.co/uTEKoztxzS— KentuckyWallChicken (@KentuckyWallChicken) 1527789222.0
She encouraged others who feel different not to give in to the negativity.
Moral of the story: just because you don't fit in somewhere doesn't mean you have to leave. If anything you MUST st… https://t.co/lcFeCn5qLM— Sophia Hadjipanteli (@Sophia Hadjipanteli) 1526006565.0
@hadjisophia Thank you for that awesome advice! So important for younger girls to embrace themselves and be proud o… https://t.co/9j0DjpKPzW— Joyful (@Joyful) 1527790062.0
@Jo04104770 This is the right tweet!!! We should be able to encourage people to be themselves without being forced… https://t.co/qEhIy4bKK7— Jordan Nelson (@Jordan Nelson) 1527792626.0
Not for me, but good on her, for being different! Don’t be a sheep, be yourself!! Go girl! https://t.co/CFalwPZokf— DivaJo (@DivaJo) 1527746459.0