Anthony / Rylstone, New South Wales. Australia.

"I would describe myself as quite conservative with a passion for the simple things in life. I put on a really good front but I’m a pretty nervous person; my birthmark has nothing to do with it. Many people have asked me if it was a problem growing up with such an obvious mark. I have always answered the same. It wasn’t, as I only saw it if I saw my reflection. I can honestly say most of the time I am oblivious to it. It makes me ‘me’; it’s my own little way of being different."

Eleanor / St George, Utah. U.S.A.

"Some of our funniest encounters have been when a stranger will be asking about Ellie’s arm and we won’t even realise that is what they’re talking about. Once someone asked if she’d been painting and another time a panicked mother was trying to alert us to her purple arm by suggesting the sleeve of her dress must be too tight and cutting the circulation off. Another time a lady at the grocery store suggested a topical ointment for eczema because she had “a really bad rash.” Thankfully, other people have known us for years and don’t even see her birthmark anymore." - Leigh (Eleanor’s mother)

Yuri / Canberra, A.C.T. Australia.

"I find it interesting that the general perception of beauty is one defined with symmetry and features that do not stand out. To me, this just means that someone is able to blend in. I think what makes anyone interesting is what sets them apart from others, whether it be a characteristic of their personality or their appearance. I like taking risks and pushing boundaries, and having a unique appearance is a feature and reflection of my personality that I like to use to challenge others to either accept, or go elsewhere for company."

Lindsay / Opelika, Alabama. U.S.A

"I can remember looking in the mirror and not liking what I saw just because of my birthmark. I hated going to the pool because of the stares. I would try to hide my birthmark with clothing or pose a certain way in pictures so you couldn’t see it. Nowadays, my best side for the camera is my birthmark side. It’s exclusive. My birthmark makes me see life so differently. It humbles me. I’m just so appreciative to have what I do because there are others with much greater problems or disabilities that make them different. Mine is only skin-deep."

Angelina / Lancaster, Pennsylvania. U.S.A.

"I have sat down and asked her if she is sad that she has this birthmark or if she is worried about it in any way. Her outlook on it is this: "I think I am so lucky because my polka dots will keep all the bad people away. If they aren't nice people I wouldn't want to be friends with them anyways". She believes it is magic. I absolutely love the way she looks at it and I am so very proud that she doesn't feel the need to hide it. As of right now, she doesn't want to find out if there is anything that can be done to change her birthmark because she doesn't want to change a part of herself. We have stopped trying to figure it all out. We no longer do searches on the internet to see if someone found out how to remove the extra veins or diminish them somehow. She loves who she is. She truly is a very lucky girl." Valeria (Angelina's mother)

Enler / Cave Creek, Arizona. U.S.A.

"Enler is full of energy from the second he wakes up. He loves superheroes and dinosaurs and is constantly coming up with scenarios where he can be one of them. He is a smart, strong-willed kid and his birthmark is beautiful. He has gotten very used to talking about it and seems proud of it. Enler loves for us to tell him stories at night. Most times I’ll tell him that the male protagonist is a handsome boy with a lovely birthmark on his face, to which he says (with the sweetest voice and big eyes) ‘Just like me?’ It’s adorable." - Jewel (Enler’s mother)

Nikki / Pennsylvania. Philadelphia.

"My birthmark is a Port Wine Stain Hemangioma. It covers half of my left arm and back, from my shoulder blade to the tips of my fingers. It's my thermometer, my hyper-colour skin, my beauty mark. It is rosy-pink in colour most of the time and turns purple when I am cold. If I have a fever, the pink hues turn darker. Unfortunately for me, this meant I could not fake being sick easily when I was little. Wherever I may be, I try to turn any questions I get about my birthmark into a teaching opportunity. After all, knowledge is power."

Marcy / Staten Island, New York. U.S.A.

"When I was born, my paternal grandparents called my maternal grandmother and told her that my parents’ union had been cursed and I was born deformed. It made for an interesting family dynamic! Growing up, I was either teased about my birthmark or my flaming red hair, and would disappear into books where no one was hurtful toward me, there were happy endings for the main character, and the villains got their just deserts. The best part of turning fifty is that I’ve realised I like me. I don’t give a rat’s ass if anyone else does – I am the only one that counts!"

Sophia / Brisbane, Queensland. Australia.

"Sophia has Bi-Lateral Sturge-Weber, which is a neurological syndrome, that to her means brain involvement that causes mental delays, epilepsy, glaucoma and a birthmark over three quarters of her face...

We were told she would never walk or talk but she has been able to master Mum, Dad, Bub and Nan on occasion. She is starting to balance in a sitting position and is becoming aware of the world around her. She laughs and giggles at things that are humorous to her and that is amazing in our eyes. She really is so easy to love and her condition has made our lives and outlook most positive..." Mandy (Sophia's mother).

Sandra / Dublin. Ireland.

"Back in the 1980’s I don’t think there was much information about these types of marks so my mom got told all kinds of explanations, like, she must have carried something in her pocket when she was pregnant to cause my birthmark... If I encounter someone with a birthmark now, there is this silent recognition, as if we know something no one else knows and I can tell immediately if the other person is comfortable with it or not. I recognise the body language as I often behave the same. "

Hallie / Sheffield. England.

"Hallie’s birthmark covers three quarters of her face, part of her head, neck, right arm, left leg and parts of her back and bottom. It is also on her bottom lip and inside her mouth and I believe on her tongue as it often dramatically changes colour and is quite enlarged. Leptomeningeal angioma is the proper name for the birthmark on her brain and this can cause seizures.

I try my hardest to take one day at a time and celebrate just how much Hallie can do and how vibrant her spirit is and adventurous her attitude towards life is at such a young age. I know many children and adults with SWS who suffer greatly with the condition so I know just how lucky Hallie is to be only mildly affected." Rachel (Hallie's mother).

Marisa / Hollywood, California. U.S.A. 

Sha has Klippel-Trénaunay-Weber syndrome covering 75% of her body and calls it "My Purple."

"I've never been self conscious of my birthmarks. I've never hated them, never wished they were gone, or wanted them removed. There's too much purple on my body to try to cover it up for anyone else's sake. Everyone has a right to wear that cute dress, or rock a pair of high waisted shorts. I'm all for body positive. If you see me and you see my Port Wine, cool. I can see your scar and freckles too. If society can finally accept those who want to cover themselves in tattoos, why can't people stop looking at a natural tattoo that covers me?"

Jonna / Helsinki. Finland.

"My son is four and he doesn't really notice my birthmark. I told him 'there is an Australian lady coming to photograph mommy's hand'. And he asked ‘Why? Is it because it is so lovely and sparkling and brings joy?” In his eyes it is normal to have a red-handed mother. Once he heard another kid asking me ‘what is it there on her hand?' And he tried to see what she meant. But he couldn´t see it. For him it was an absurd question."