27-YEAR-OLD Alexandra was born with a rare genetic condition called Williams syndrome, which makes her one of the most friendly people you can come across. Alexandra describes the condition as "kind of like Down's syndrome, but we're missing chromosome seven." While the condition affects people differently, older sister Victoria identifies many of the classic traits in Alexandra: "It's characterised by cognitive and developmental issues, highly sociable personalities, an affinity for music [and] similar facial features" - including "starburst-blue eyes." The two sisters are inseparable, spending every day together - and Victoria insists that "it doesn't feel tiring to match her happy energy - she's always been that way, it's always been a consistent in my life." But she is very protective of her sister, as Alexandra's highly sociable tendencies meant that she used to "wander off and just give anybody a hug." This was something that Victoria had to teach her not to do, out of concern that "not everyone is friendly, not everyone has good intentions." Alexandra's zest for life is still as strong as ever though - and she has found a passion for clothing and fashion. In recent years the sisters have developed an online business selling clothing that they design and make together - and Alexandra takes the lead creatively: "All of the designs have been Alexandra-approved before they go on the website." Their items are often emblazoned with mottos that Alexandra resonates with - such as "Stay Weird" and "Normal Is Boring" - and Alexandra models every item herself. The sisters donate a percentage of the profits they make to the Williams Syndrome Association, a charity that has introduced Alexandra to other young people living with Williams syndrome "all over the world" - close friends she now talks to every day without fail over video call. Despite the connections Alexandra has made, Williams syndrome is so rare that the sisters have felt it important to use their social media channels to educate on what living with Williams syndrome looks like. They post regularly to Instagram and TikTok - despite Victoria initially feeling very cautious about exposing her sister to negativity. Her fears were realised when she saw trolls "make comments about my sister" - something that did "irk" her in the beginning - but Alexandra's defiant positivity has enabled them to create "platforms where there is love." In doing so, Victoria has been able to "see things from [Alexandra's] point of view" and the two sisters are closer than ever. Alexandra knows she has a best friend and staunch ally in Victoria - and the two sisters are out to remind us all that "you should be happy with what makes you unique, because normal is really boring."
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Follow Alexandra & Victoria on YouTube: https://youtube.com/thebirchfamily
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Follow Alexandra & Victoria on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebirchfamilyy
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FunTranscript
00:00 My rare condition means I love everyone.
00:04 Williams syndrome is a super rare genetic condition
00:06 characterized by cognitive and developmental issues
00:11 and highly social personalities.
00:13 Oh, okay.
00:15 I used to go up to strangers and hug them
00:19 and Victoria taught me not to.
00:22 I worry people will take advantage of her
00:25 but I will always be there to protect my sister.
00:27 You have been there for me since I was born.
00:30 Yeah.
00:31 I'm about to call all my friends.
00:35 Oh Lord, have mercy.
00:36 Hopefully it works.
00:38 I'm Alexandra, I'm 27 years old
00:41 and I have Williams syndrome.
00:43 I'm Victoria, I'm 30 years old.
00:45 I'm this one's sister.
00:47 Williams syndrome is a condition
00:51 kind of like Down syndrome
00:53 but we're missing chromosome seven.
00:55 It's characterized by cognitive and developmental issues
01:00 along with the developmental delays.
01:03 They also have very like highly social personalities.
01:07 Hi, I'm Alexandra, I have Williams syndrome.
01:09 They all have an affinity for music.
01:12 Do you know Nickelback?
01:13 I do.
01:14 Love that band.
01:15 They have similar facial features
01:19 and y'all have a wider mouth
01:21 and then y'all,
01:22 they usually all have like the starburst blue eyes.
01:25 A lot of y'all do.
01:26 Oh yeah, if you came close to my eyes, you would see it.
01:30 Hi.
01:31 I talk to my friends that have the same Williams syndrome.
01:36 She's made Williams syndrome friends from all over the world.
01:41 They Facebook Messenger all the time, like all the time.
01:45 I'll be like sewing and I'll look over
01:49 and some of them are sleeping
01:51 and they're like watching each other sleep.
01:53 Some of them are like dancing and doing their own thing.
01:55 We're really crazy.
01:57 What do y'all ask me to do to Alexandra
01:59 when y'all are on the phone?
02:01 Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.
02:02 I know what this is going, don't.
02:04 Huh?
02:05 I tickle her.
02:07 It doesn't feel tiring to match her happy energy.
02:13 She's always been that way.
02:15 It's always been a consistent in my life.
02:17 Me and my sister spent every day together.
02:20 I love hanging out with her.
02:22 We are going to the thrift store to find new items
02:27 so we can create something really cool today.
02:31 Put your shoes on, girl.
02:33 Sometimes we argue.
02:35 I mean, we're sisters.
02:36 That's what sisters do.
02:37 She's a precious sister, that's why.
02:41 Where's your jacket?
02:42 Throw me mine.
02:43 Thank you.
02:46 Totally throw it, so I threw it.
02:49 You did.
02:50 You did throw it.
02:51 My parents were always very open
02:56 and honest about her disability.
02:59 Our mom, she took her out of school
03:01 and she got homeschooled where she could have
03:03 the one-on-one attention that she actually needed.
03:05 It was kind of in that point where kids
03:10 aren't so as accepting when they kind of get to that age
03:12 where they start forming friend groups
03:15 and, oh, she's a little different.
03:16 That's something I really, I don't think
03:19 she would have been able to handle.
03:21 But she didn't have to go through that.
03:23 No.
03:23 Are you happy?
03:25 Are you happy about that?
03:26 Oh, yeah.
03:27 Oh, this is not as cute as I thought it was.
03:33 She has so many cute clothes.
03:37 It's ridiculous.
03:39 I love clothes.
03:41 They're so pretty.
03:43 Well, we like fun, happy, like funky clothes.
03:47 It's kind of hard to find, so we just make our own.
03:51 It's like treasure hunting.
03:52 We like treasure hunting and then we like creating,
03:56 so we treasure hunt and create all at the same time.
03:59 That's funky.
04:01 I get excited immediately.
04:07 She goes like this.
04:08 She got blue nails.
04:11 Those are cute.
04:12 Thank you.
04:13 Are you a people person, Alden?
04:15 Yeah, if I know them well enough.
04:18 Yeah, but back when you were younger,
04:20 it wasn't if you knew them well enough.
04:23 I used to love hugging people that I didn't know
04:27 'cause it made me happy.
04:29 She would, so she would wander off
04:30 and just give anybody a hug, which is sweet,
04:33 and most people don't mind, but some people do mind.
04:37 Not everyone is friendly.
04:39 Not everyone has good intentions.
04:41 It took a while for you to understand that.
04:44 Victoria taught me not to.
04:47 I worry people will take advantage of her,
04:50 but I will always be there to protect my sister.
04:52 In the car.
04:53 Good job.
04:56 So, the mottos that are on our clothes,
04:58 we try to use phrases that are like be yourself,
05:03 stay weird, normal is boring.
05:05 You know, if you're weird, that's fine.
05:06 Like, embrace how you're unique.
05:08 I love that one.
05:09 You like this one?
05:11 Of you?
05:11 Yeah.
05:12 Yeah.
05:13 It says normal is boring,
05:14 and it has the Williams Syndrome logo on there as well.
05:17 So, any of our items, like t-shirts wise,
05:20 that we make that has the Williams Syndrome logo,
05:22 we donate a portion of our profits to the association.
05:26 These colors match together.
05:29 You like those colors together?
05:30 Yes.
05:31 So, I do the sewing 'cause I enjoy it,
05:33 and she has no interest in sewing, but she helps.
05:38 You wanna cut it?
05:39 When she cuts, it's a little jagged, but I like that.
05:42 It just adds some uniqueness to it.
05:45 She likes to, I mean, have the final say-so on the designs
05:50 to make sure that they're Alexander approved.
05:52 So, all of the designs have been Alexander approved
05:55 before they go on the website.
05:58 And I'll get something, and I'll say,
06:00 "What do you think about this?"
06:01 And she'll be like, "No, that's ugly."
06:03 And so, I'll try again until--
06:05 I'll be honest with you, I will tell her how it is.
06:08 This one's one of my favorites 'cause it has me on it.
06:12 (laughs)
06:13 You cut off the bottom to this
06:15 to make it like frayed and worn looking.
06:18 And who models the clothes when they're done?
06:21 (laughs)
06:25 Oh, okay.
06:28 Walk towards me with your model walk and runway go.
06:31 And then strike your pose.
06:35 Good job.
06:38 - Alexander, how do you feel when you're modeling?
06:41 - I feel good.
06:42 She is the best model.
06:44 Oh, oh, I look good.
06:45 - Which one you think?
06:49 - Oh, that one's cute.
06:50 - You like that one?
06:51 - Yeah.
06:52 - I like that one.
06:53 And we make videos.
06:55 For, what do we make videos for?
06:57 - TikTok or Instagram.
07:00 - Are you ready?
07:01 - Yeah.
07:01 - I feel like I have tried to create platforms
07:06 to where it is positive and there is love.
07:08 Everyone gets trolls and it would really irk me
07:13 when they would make comments on my sister.
07:15 And that was part of the reason why I was hesitant
07:17 in the beginning to even put her on social media.
07:19 I mean, there are things that could get her down
07:23 but she chooses not to, so it makes me proud.
07:27 Just the way that she loves and cares about people
07:31 is a good reminder for me to just see the world
07:35 from her point of view.
07:38 'Cause I think our world, especially nowadays,
07:41 just needs a lot more of that.
07:42 Why are you proud of me?
07:45 - 'Cause you have been there for me since I was born.
07:49 - Yeah.
07:49 But I'm always gonna be there for you.
07:53 That's what sisters are for, huh?
07:58 You should be happy with what makes you unique.
08:03 'Cause normal's really boring.
08:05 - Yeah.
08:06 (upbeat music)
08:08 (upbeat music)
08:11 (silence)
08:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]