My little girl is allergic to the sun but a dress changed everything

"It really affected her confidence, and Monroe would feel embarrassed because people would point, stare, and laugh at her."

10-year-old Monroe Mills, from New South Wales, is so severely allergic to the sun that she's had to wear a full body suit and mask to protect her skin.

Monroe's mum, Sarah Mills, 36, began buying her daughter these stunning Dollcake dresses when she was four years old in a bid to build her confidence and help her feel beautiful when she was at her lowest.

Recently decided to get in touch with the company who sent Monroe a dress inspired by her.

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"People would point and stare"

Sarah, an influencer, said: "Monroe has been allergic to the sun ever since she was a baby. She'd welt up and throw up whenever she was in the sun.

"After realising the association, we had to cover her up in a full bodysuit and mask to protect her. When her allergy was at her worst, she has to use immunosuppressants and chemotherapy to try and treat it.

"It really affected her confidence, and Monroe would feel embarrassed because people would point, stare, and laugh at her.

"I was always searching for things that would make her feel beautiful, and when she was four years old I came across the Dollcake and bought her a dress.

"She was obsessed and wouldn't take it off for an entire week. She even slept in it. The confidence the dress gave her was incredible, so it became a tradition that I would buy her a couple of new dresses for each birthday.

"She feels her best whenever she is in a Dollcake dress."

Monroe when she was a young child. Source: Caters

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"Seeing your child so happy is amazing"

Proud mum Sarah adds, "Monroe is an aspiring influencer, and she is always drawing dresses. It was her dream to be able to design one with Dollcake. So, we made a video of her asking if they would be interested in designing a dress with her, but we knew it would be a long shot.

"They wrote back to me asking her her measurements and I couldn't believe it. They used all of Monroe's inspirations to make a dress for her, including Bridgerton, pastel colours and her love of anything whimsical."

The dress arrived within weeks.

"When I showed it to Monroe she burst into tears before she'd even realised it had been made for her.

"When she tried it on for the first time, we were both in tears. All of the dresses are incredible, but this one was just next level.

"Seeing your child so happy and feeling so beautiful and confident is so amazing."

Monroe was overcome upon receiving the dress. Source: Caters

"We really enjoyed rainy days"

Sarah says that her daughter became aware that people were taking notice of and laughing at her full-body suit and mask when she was around three years old.

She added: "She realised people would laugh and stare at her and became shy and embarrassed. It would sometimes be hard to get her to leave the house.

"She started dance classes and that's the only place she felt confident.

"We wouldn't be able to go out during the day because of the sun. We'd go to the park at night, and to the beach early in the morning and in the evenings. We also really enjoyed rainy days.

"Her skin would become red and itchy, she'd get welts and bad headaches, and become nauseous and extremely tired."

Monroe is a confident little lady. Source: Caters

"The Dollcake dresses have been life-changing"

Sarah said she can't overstate what Dollcake dresses mean to them.

"These dresses have had such a profound impact on Monroe's life. They've literally been life-changing.

"She's definitely getting there with her confidence, with a big help from her dresses. Getting this dress, which has been made for her using her inspirations, has been a huge deal for her.

"Monroe wants other little girls to know they can accomplish their dreams, as she has done by getting this dress made for herself. She is a whole new version of herself now and it's amazing."

Originally published as My little girl is allergic to the sun but a dress changed everything