A mother-of-two has revealed she refuses to cover up her four-inch-wide birthmark on her face despite the stares and comments of passers-by.
Ferrin Roy, 30, from Louisiana, US, has now written a self-help book about her journey of acceptance to inspire ‘anyone who struggles with being different’.
The mental health counsellor says she no longer is affected by remarks from others about her looks.
Ferrin has now written a book which challenges society’s perception of beauty, which is titled The Mark She Kept: A Woman’s Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously.
‘My smile is radiant and no one can put a dampener on my smile, enthusiasm or confidence,’ she said.
‘I completely embrace my birthmark. I never covered it and never will, I love answering questions about it and I just feel so good.’
Ferrin Roy, from Louisiana, embraces her four-inch-wide birthmark and refuses to cover it up
The 30-year-old says she has accepted the blemish and is no longer upset by remarks
‘The stares felt awkward’
Ferrin says she didn’t even notice her birthmark until she was nine years old and other school children accepted her.
But she revealed it’s strangers in the street that often stop and ask if she has paint on her face.
‘The stares felt awkward outside of home and school,’ she said. ‘I attended school with the same kids until twelfth grade so everyone was accustomed to seeing me with my birthmark.
‘I didn’t recognise stares until I was outside of home and school. Some people would squint their eyes, ask if it was paint, inquired about removal and also several people have asked to touch it.’
The mother-of-two has penned a self-help book titled The Mark She Kept: A Woman’s Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously
Ferrin says she is speaking out to help anyone who ‘struggles with being different’ to embrace their uniqueness
Rising above
However, Ferrin has learned to overcome feeling affected by their reactions.
‘My birthmark is not only raising awareness but it’s helping others embrace their uniqueness.
‘Surprisingly, the second I became free of insecurities questions from others stopped tremendously.
‘I honestly do not recognise if people still stare. I’ve been standing out since the day I was born and others make me feel like a work of art.’
The mental health counsellor, pictured with her husband, admits once let the opinion ‘to linger on for too long’
Ferrin, shown here with her daughters, says ‘once you accept who you are, others will have no choice but to accept you’
She says her family and friends have supported her in writing her book which challenges society’s perception of beauty, which is titled The Mark She Kept: A Woman’s Journey to Living Her Purpose Courageously.
Ferrin says she hopes to encourage others to love and accept themselves before searching for love elsewhere.
‘I’ve always felt confident while gazing into a mirror. It was the opinion of others that I allowed to linger on for too long,’ she added.
‘My birthmark is a part of me, I will not cover it to satisfy the view of others.
‘I will always be myself and no one is worth me changing who I am.
‘My advice is to focus on self-love instead of searching for love from others. Once you accept who you are, others will have no choice but to accept you.
‘People will gravitate to you, and recognise what you have instilled in you.’
For details about Ferrin’s book visit here.