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19-year-old Ciera Swaringen was born with a rare skin condition called giant congenital melanocytic nevus.
It’s an extremely rare skin condition, and it means that she’s covered from head to toe in moles and large birthmarks.
The largest of them covers an area from her belly button to her lower thighs.
Doctors have told her that while these birthmarks aren’t a danger to her health, she can’t have them removed. This is because these birthmarks will never stop growing.
Kids and teenagers have not been kind to Ciera growing up. Most of this bullying came from boys.
“One day I remember being on the school bus and hearing a young boy laugh at me and call me a spotty dog…I was only young and it made me feel different to the other kids, like something was wrong with me.”
And of course, as she went on to high school, things only got worse.
“Teenage boys are usually the first ones to comment when they see me,” the teen told The Daily Mail. “They say things like, ‘You look like you’re dirty, take a wash.’”
But over time, Ciera has learned to accept herself, and her confidence is inspiring. Her family has been a big part of her gaining confidence:
“I remember when I started school my mom told me that by birthmarks were angel kisses—and that really stuck with me,” she says.
“Over time I’ve learnt to brush off negative comments and remember that most people stare and say cruel things because they’re not used to seeing someone with my condition.”
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She did a school project on her condition, and hopes to reach out to others with conditions similar to her own for further support.
“I’m so proud to be different,” says Swaringen, “and at the end of the day, we all have something about us that’s unusual, whether it’s on the inside or the outside.”
What do you think of this inspiring young woman?
Photo Copyright © 2015 Ciera Dawn Swaringen/Facebook
