Celebrity Stylist Emily B. Shares Daughter's Autism Diagnosis Among Another Condition
"She’s changed me in ways I still can’t fully put into words."
Published April 2 2026, 3:50 p.m. ET
World Autism Awareness Day is a holiday created to increase awareness around autism to spark acceptance, understanding, and inclusion. The day was initially created by the United Nations in hopes of not only improving the quality of life for people with autism, but also to express the importance of early diagnosis.
So, when celebrity stylist Emily Bustamante announced her daughter’s autism diagnosis, social media users immediately showered her and the family with support. Here’s the full scoop.
Emily B. shared that her daughter’s autism diagnosis has changed her for the better.
On April 2, 2026, Emily B. announced to her Instagram community that her daughter, 5-year-old Journey Isabella, whom she shares with her ex-husband, rapper Fabolous, has autism. And in the post, she shared that announcing the news on World Autism Day was intentional.
“For a long time, I kept this part of my life private … publicly,” Emily wrote. “Not because I was ashamed. Not because I didn’t love her loudly. But because some Journeys feel sacred.”
She continued, “My daughter Journey is autistic. She is nonverbal. She has sensory processing challenges. She was born with PHACE syndrome, a very rare congenital condition.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, PHACE syndrome “is a rare condition that can affect multiple parts of your child’s body, including their skin, brain, heart, major arteries, and eyes.” The organization shared that children are born with it. Additionally, the outlet shares that the “condition can be life-threatening if symptoms are severe. However, treatment helps manage the condition.”
While Emily shared that Journey experiences the world differently, she revealed that her diagnosis has changed her.
“There have been moments of fear,” Emily shared. “Moments of learning. Moments where I had to become stronger than I ever imagined. But more than anything … there has been LOVE.”
Emily concluded the post by sharing that both “Journey and visibility matters,” and that her followers could look forward to her sharing more about her daughter’s journey and autism awareness.
Various celebrities have shown their support for Emily and the Bustamante family.
Announcing that your child has autism (or any condition) can come with its fears, but being brave enough to share it with the world means more than anyone could know and does so much for awareness.
As expected, various celebrities and fans have been showering Emily and Journey with support.
“Beautifully written! We love y’all,” actress and entrepreneur Reginae Carter wrote.
“So beautiful. God bless you and your family. I’m sure that sharing this has lifted a weight off of another family that may be experiencing the same thing, and seeing you probably will inspire them to do the same thing,” entrepreneur Milan Harris shared.
“Thank you for this, @emilyb_. I’m sure it was difficult to open this part of your life up, but I know it is helping another mommy somewhere. Just know, Journey is going to amaze you with how spectacular she is,” a fan wrote.
It’s beautiful to see so many people pour into Emily and her family. Hopefully, Emily’s announcement has made it easier for other moms to be open about their children’s conditions and create a better understanding.
We’d like to send Emily and her kids love and light.