This Woman Refused to Cover Up Her Striking Facial Birthmark on Her Wedding Day
Ferrin Roy, a 30-year-old author and mental health counselor from Louisiana, didn't realize she had a birthmark until she was 9 years old. Her classmates had always been accepting of the 4-inch facial birthmark covering much of Roy's right cheek, and she didn't know there was something different about her until she noticed strangers on the street stopping and staring at her.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Roy explained that people would squint at her in the street, ask if she had paint on her face, and talk to her about whether she wanted to remove her birthmark (she didn't). Some strangers would even go as far as to ask if they could touch her birthmark. But instead of leaving Roy feeling insecure or uncomfortable, these gestures left her feeling like a "work of art." "My smile is radiant, and no one can put a damper on my enthusiasm or confidence," she continued.
This inner confidence carried Roy throughout her life—all the way to her wedding day, where she wore her birthmark with pride. "I've always felt confident looking in the mirror," she said. "My birthmark is a part of me...I've never covered it and never will." For Roy, this radiant self-love is as much about her as it is about others. She explained that she hopes her body positivity will inspire others to embrace the things that make them unique—and that she'll help people see how normal birthmarks are and how beautiful they can be.
"I will always be myself, and no one is worth me changing who I am," she said. "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 [do the same]."
See some of the stunning images from Roy's wedding day below.
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