Woman, 27, who suffers rare genetic condition that ‘makes her fall in love with everyone’ opens up about what it’s really like to live with the unique disorder – and how she’s turned it into a booming business

• Alexandra Birch, 27, from Louisiana, was born with William Syndrome
• It makes her extremely ‘outgoing’ while struggling to ‘identifying strangers’
• She spoke out about the difficulties she’s faced during a chat with Truly recently 

A woman who suffers from a rare genetic condition that ‘makes her fall in love with everyone’ has opened up about what it’s really like to live with the unique disorder – and has revealed how she has turned her differences into a booming business.

Alexandra Birch, 27, from Louisiana, has something called William Syndrome – which means she is was born without chromosome seven.

People who suffer from William Syndrome often have delays in their development and cardiovascular abnormalities – but they are also extremely ‘outgoing and friendly,’ have ‘excessive empathy,’ and can face ‘difficulty identifying strangers,’ according to Cleveland Clinic.

Alexandra recently lifted a lid on some of the difficulties that she faced while growing up with the condition during an interview with Truly alongside her older sister, Victoria, 30.

A woman who suffers from a rare genetic condition that ‘makes her fall in love with everyone’ has opened up about what it’s really like to live with the unique disorder

Alexandra Birch, 27, from Louisiana, has something called William Syndrome – which means she is was born without chromosome seven. She’s seen as a kid

People who suffer from William Syndrome often have delays in their development – but they are also extremely ‘outgoing and friendly’ and can face ‘difficulty identifying strangers’

Alexandra recently lifted a lid on some of the difficulties that she faced while growing up with the condition during an interview with Truly alongside her older sister, Victoria, 30

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BeIAOm6O1yM%3Frel%3D0

‘William Syndrome is a condition kind of like Down Syndrome but [instead of having an extra chromosome], we’re missing chromosome seven,’ Alexandra said of her disorder. ‘My rare condition means I love everyone.’

Victoria added, ‘William Syndrome is a super rare genetic condition characterized by cognitive and developmental issues. 

Victoria explained that Alexandra’s affection towards strangers would sometimes put her in risky situations. They’re seen together when they were younger

‘Along with the developmental delays, they also have very, like, highly social personalities.’

Victoria explained that Alexandra’s affection towards people that she doesn’t know would sometimes put her in risky situations – because not everyone has the ‘best intentions.’

‘She would wander off and just give anybody a hug, which is sweet and most people don’t mind, but you know, some people do mind,’ Victoria revealed.

‘Not everyone is friendly not everyone has good intentions. It took a while for her to understand that.’

Alexandra told the publication that she ‘loves to hug people’ because it ‘makes her happy,’ but added that Victoria ‘taught her’ not to do that anymore. 

Because of Alexandra’s disability, Victoria admitted that she is also often ‘worried’ about people ‘taking advantage’ of her sister – but she has vowed to ‘always protect’ her.

‘She would wander off and just give anybody a hug,’ Victoria revealed. ‘Not everyone is friendly not everyone has good intentions. It took a while for her to understand that’

Alexandra told the publication that she ‘loves to hug people’ because it ‘makes her happy,’ but added that Victoria ‘taught her’ not to do that anymore

In April 2018, Victoria began sharing Alexandra’s story online, and almost immediately, her content went viral. They then decided to use their social media fame to start a business

She insisted that Alexandra’s endless ‘happy energy doesn’t feel tiring,’ adding, ‘She’s always been that way, it’s always been a consistent in my life.’

In December of that year, they began selling shirts that had a drawing of Alexandra’s face, donating five per cent of all sales to the William Syndrome Association

Victoria explained that Alexandra spent the first years of her life in a regular school, but when she got to the age where ‘kids weren’t as accepting’ anymore, they decided to homeschool her.

‘You get to that age where you start forming friend groups, and [that’s when people started to notice], “oh she’s a little different,”‘ she said.  ‘That’s something I really I don’t think she would have been able to handle.’

She added that being homeschooled also meant Alexandra could get the ‘one-on-one attention that she needed.’

In April 2018, Victoria began sharing Alexandra’s story online under a joint account known as The Birch Family, and almost immediately, the content went viral.

They soon started to rake in thousands of views, likes, and comments, and together, they decided to use their newfound social media fame to start a business – while also raising money for the William Syndrome Association.

The sisters have now amassed more than 142,000 followers on TikTok and have expanded their brand immensely. Alexandra is seen in some of the shirts they sell

They now sell a slew of products like T-shirts and long sleeve button-down tops, hoodies, jackets, headbands, stickers (seen), and magnets, among other things

The sisters make the clothes together – they visit thrift stores and buy old pieces that they cut up and combine

‘I do most of the sewing and Alexandra does the cutting,’ Victoria shared. ‘When she cuts it’s a little jagged but I like that, it just adds some uniqueness to it’

In December of that year, they began selling shirts that had a drawing of Alexandra’s face, as well as the words ‘Normal is boring,’ on the front, while donating five per cent of all sales to the organization.

The sisters have now amassed more than 142,000 followers on TikTok and 140,000 on YouTube and have expanded their brand to sell a slew of products like T-shirts and long sleeve button-down tops, hoodies, jackets, headbands, stickers, and magnets, among other things.

The sisters make the clothes together – they visit thrift stores and buy old pieces that they cut up and combine, and everything they release has to be ‘Alexandra approved.’

‘I do most of the sewing and Alexandra does the cutting,’ Victoria shared. ‘When she cuts it’s a little jagged but I like that, it just adds some uniqueness to it.

‘She likes to have the final say on the designs, all of the designs have been Alexander approved before they go on the website.’

‘I’ll [finish] something and I’ll say, “What do you think about this?” And she’ll be like, “No, that’s ugly.” So then I’ll try again,’ Victoria joked, while Alexandra interjected, ‘I tell her how it is.’

Victoria added: ‘She likes to have the final say on the designs, all of the designs have been Alexander approved before they go on the website’

Alexandra also models most of the clothes for their website and social media accounts

Victoria said that while ‘everyone’ on the internet ‘gets trolls,’ she is proud to have created a platform that is filled mostly with ‘positivity and love’ for her sister

Most of their products include inspirational sayings like ‘Be yourself,’ ‘Stay weird,’ and ‘Normal is boring.’

‘[The message is], if you’re weird, that’s fine. Embrace how you’re unique,’ Victoria explained.

Alexandra also models the clothes for their website and social media accounts.

Victoria said that while ‘everyone’ on the internet ‘gets trolls,’ she is proud to have created a platform that is filled mostly with ‘positivity and love’ for her sister.

And she added that Alexandra is completely unbothered by any hate she does get online.

‘I was hesitant in the beginning to even put her on social media. I mean, there are things that could get her down but she chooses not to and it makes me proud,’ she gushed. 

‘Just the way that she loves and cares about people is a good reminder for me to just see the world from her point of view.’

‘I think our world especially nowadays just needs a lot more of that,’ she concluded, before telling her sister, ‘I’m always gonna be there for you, that’s what sisters are for.’

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