A teenage girl nicknamed 'spotty dog' by school bullies has embraced the hundreds of birthmarks that cover her entire face and body. 19-year-old Ciera Swaringen, of Rockwell, North Carolina, USA was born with mole-like birthmarks that spread from her head to her toes. Ciera's rare skin condition affects just one in 500,000 people and covers 70 percent of her body - with the largest mark stretching from her lower thighs to her navel. Since a child, the pretty teen has endured cruel taunts from strangers, but has now grown to love her unique appearance. She says: “Teenage boys are usually the first ones to comment when they see me. “They say things like, ‘You look like you’re dirty, take a wash.’
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
A photographer has captured spellbinding images of stars swirling above the English countryside .
A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
A mum-of-two has worn the same t-shirt for an entire year to raise awareness of a 1 in 7 million condition that prevents her daughter from talking .
WITH THE WIND blowing through their fur, you'll believe a dog can fly in these hilarious images .
A makeup artist from the West Midlands magically transforms herself into famous cartoon characters using body paint .
STEPFORD wives from the 1950's and 60's are performing history's most sexist exercise programme .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
Gigantic 100ft waves create the perfect playground for dare-devil surfers from across the world .
Recovering from a rare form of breast cancer, Deborah Barnett, 43, of Stoke-on-Trent, thought she'd made it through the worst, but she was betrayed by former colleague Sandra Ramsay, of Mow Cop Road, Mow Cop, Stoke-on-Trent .