Clara Woods gives an artwork to Katy Perry!

Guys, you probably already saw something on social media, but the emotions keep coming. Seeing Clara dancing with Katy Perry and, after that, giving the portrait she did and Katy's reaction is a milestone, a dream coming true, and a heart memory forever!

So come with me!

On August 26, we walked into AMC The Grove in Los Angeles for the screening of Katy Perry's new movie, "The Lifetimes Tour, Live from Paris." All thanks to Daniel Catullo, one of Clara's best friends, the movie's producer, and CEO of "10 Lives Studio"!

Clara had the portrait that made it in just two mornings with a video shoot in the middle! When Clara wants to make something happen, nothing can stop her.

We got the invite on a Tuesday morning. I remember looking at Clara, and both of us just said, let's go straight to the studio. No time to think. Just paint. And of course, an ice cream after it; that is not negotiable.

Nobody believed in us

Clara had a stroke in my womb. The doctors told me she would not be capable of anything. People around us went further. They said things like: put her in an institution. They said she would be a nobody. Some of it was said to my face. A lot of it was said behind our backs, and I heard about it anyway, because that is how small talk works.

And it was not strangers only. It was family. It was friends. People who were supposed to be in our corner told us to stop. They said nobody would ever want Clara's art. They laughed. I carried that laugh with me for years.

We left everything behind. We moved to another continent with six suitcases and a dream. A dream of building a life with dignity for Clara.

Dream Big

When we got that call, we knew what we had to make. Clara painted a portrait of Katy for two mornings straight. She was out of her mind with happiness and listening to Katy's songs the whole time.

(resting before going to the event and the artwork is finally finished)

Her brother Davi stood next to her that night and helped explain to Katy who Clara is and how she uses her art to talk to the world. Katy looked at the painting, and her face changed. She said something like, this is amazing, this is so brilliant, can I put this in my office. Then she hugged Clara.

She danced even with a hurting leg

That night Katy also joined the fans and danced to "Firework." Clara danced too, even though one of her legs was hurting and she was scared of losing her balance. She did not sit that one out. She never backs down. 

(Clara Woods and Katy Perry dancing Firework)

Katy talked that night about not listening to people who speak badly about you. About proving your worth through what you do, not what you say. I sat there and felt like she was speaking straight to my heart, to everything Clara and I lived through.

Five years of knocking on doors

For five years I tried to get someone at People Magazine to write Clara's story. I kept pitching myself. On Saturday, Clara sent me the link. They finally wrote it. I read it and some tears came down, because dreams really do come true, but only if you keep working for them.

(Clara Woods and Katy Perry featured in People Magazine)

The movie comes to theaters on September 2. If you are a parent, please go watch it and bring your kids. The message inside it is the same message we have been living for years. Normal is underrated. You can be yourself. You can dream big. Love always wins.

Clara went from a room full of people who said she would be nobody, to a room where a global pop star hugged her and asked to keep her art forever.

Never give up on your dreams. But please, you have to work hard for them too.

Sending lots of love!

Betina