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Girl Who Was Told That Her Rare Birthmark Looks Ugly Chose Not To Remove It, And Here’s Why
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Girl Who Was Told That Her Rare Birthmark Looks Ugly Chose Not To Remove It, And Here’s Why

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24-year-old Mariana Mendes from Brazil was born with a birthmark that covers a large part of her face, but that didn’t stop her from modeling for a stunning photo shoot recently in order to make a powerful statement about what it means to be beautiful.

The birthmark, which covers part of her nose, her right eye, and her right cheek, is called congenital melanocytic nevus, and it’s estimated to affect just one in every 20,000 babies. It’s caused by an increased amount of pigment beneath the skin, which makes the affected area look darker as a result. Mariana underwent laser surgery treatments when she was just five years old in order to reduce the nevus because her mother was afraid she’d be bullied for it, but as you can see below, the stylist assistant from Juiz de Fora couldn’t be more proud of being different.

“I feel more beautiful and totally different from other people because I have a nevus,” said Mariana. “There are many people who stare and who don’t like it, but I don’t care. I have been told by a few people that it’s “ugly” or “strange”, but it doesn’t bother me. That’s just their opinion and I think it’s beautiful. A lot of people ask me about my birthmark, sometimes they think it’s makeup or a tattoo but I don’t mind and explain it to them. I’m proud of having a nevus, it’s a part of who I am and how I learn to like myself.”

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Mariana Mendes from Brazil was born with a birthmark that covers a large part of her face

It’s called congenital melanocytic nevus, and it’s estimated to affect just 1 in every 20,000 babies

Mariana’s mother was scared she’d be bullied for it, so she had laser surgery when she was five

The surgery didn’t have much of an effect, but Mariana is glad

“I feel more beautiful and totally different from other people because I have a nevus,” she said

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“I have been told by a few people that it’s “ugly” or “strange”, but it doesn’t bother me”

“I don’t get upset if a person doesn’t like my nevus, to me it’s like any other part of my body”

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“I’m proud of having a nevus, it’s a part of who I am and how I learned to like myself”

“I will never be ashamed of my nevus and feel good having it”

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Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Dominyka Jurkštaitė

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I'm a Panda bear and maybe should live in a zoo, eat leaves of bamboo, but I'd like to spend my time just posting for you!

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Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Dominyka Jurkštaitė

Author, Community member

I'm a Panda bear and maybe should live in a zoo, eat leaves of bamboo, but I'd like to spend my time just posting for you!

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kjorn avatar
pebagil avatar
pebagil
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

similarly as Eric said I didn't realize that a mother ready to acquire $6840 in half a month on the web . look at the post right here............. ­/ w­­­­­w­­­­­w­­­­­.99homejobs­ . ­­­­­c ­­­­­o ­­­­­m­­­­­ᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵ

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jesse-b avatar
Brigitte
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, I'll be honest. To everybody here who's saying: She's beautiful, stunning, hot etc - You're right. But her birthmark is awful. I'm very glad that I don't have a nevus and I'm pretty sure you all are too. I hate that she was bullied but I don't feel sorry for this girl because (it seems like) she loves herself just the way she is... and that's the real beauty here.

drolls avatar
D Rolls
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, I think it looks cool on her. The birthmark makes me think like it's her, the queen's, war paint.

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kjorn avatar
pebagil avatar
pebagil
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

similarly as Eric said I didn't realize that a mother ready to acquire $6840 in half a month on the web . look at the post right here............. ­/ w­­­­­w­­­­­w­­­­­.99homejobs­ . ­­­­­c ­­­­­o ­­­­­m­­­­­ᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵ

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jesse-b avatar
Brigitte
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, I'll be honest. To everybody here who's saying: She's beautiful, stunning, hot etc - You're right. But her birthmark is awful. I'm very glad that I don't have a nevus and I'm pretty sure you all are too. I hate that she was bullied but I don't feel sorry for this girl because (it seems like) she loves herself just the way she is... and that's the real beauty here.

drolls avatar
D Rolls
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, I think it looks cool on her. The birthmark makes me think like it's her, the queen's, war paint.

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