A woman with over 200 birthmarks, including one which measures 32-inches, has overcome bullies who called her a gorilla and is now hoping to inspire others to 'embrace what makes you different'.
Libny Molano, a musician from Colombia, was born with birthmarks all over her body, the most prominent one covers her right arm and led to cruel bullies branding her a 'gorilla', 'Dalmatian' and told her she had 'the hand of the devil'.
Libny is refusing to let the bullies win. Credit: Jack Santamaria/mediadrumworld.com
Advert
Fortunately for Libny, her parents explained her birthmarks to her at a young age and how they were no big deal, so she never saw them as a problem. Sadly, that all changed when she began school and the bullying started.
She said: "Since the first day of my life I've been handling people's reactions but I never really noticed them because I was protected by my parents 24/7 until I started school.
"Children have the most honest and at the same time cruel reactions in the world, so that changed me.
Credit: Jack Santamaria/mediadrumworld.com
Advert
"I noticed they were afraid of me and they didn't want to spend time with me and they called me a Dalmatian and said I was a gorilla and some of them told me I had the hand of the devil.
"This was extremely painful and confusing because at home they always told me I was unique, and after that I started noticing everyone's reaction everywhere I went and that made me feel sad, ashamed, afraid and insecure.
"I got tired of feeling sad and insecure and I decided to become the best version of myself and be my own superhero."
The 24-year-old is hoping that by speaking out about her own experience she can inspire others to love themselves for who they are and not let bullies drag them down.
Credit: Jack Santamaria/mediadrumworld.com
Advert
She continued: "My friends and family love that I now see what they've always seen and they feel so proud of me.
"My advice is to embrace whatever makes you different and make it your best feature, we all have our own 'birthmarks' and that's what makes us who we are.
"The message I want to convey is that we are all masterpieces, made perfectly by a great painter, and we shouldn't see ourselves as anything less than that.
"We're all a 'Mona Lisa' perfect and unique in our own way."
Featured Image Credit: Jack Santamaria/mediadrumworld.comTopics: School, Interesting, Feels, Bullying, Community, woman, Sad