Pinning a purple flower into her bleach blonde hair, pretty Ava admired herself in the mirror. She had every reason to be proud. In the space of a year, she had lost an incredible 17 stone. Her weight dropped from 37st 1lbs to 19st 7lbs, and she slipped into a dress before gazing at her newly svelte figure. With her smokey eye makeup and black skater dress, she could have been glamming up for a night on the tiles with her girlfriends. Instead, it was Halloween, 2013, and Ava was hiding a huge secret. Born a boy named William, it was the first time she had ever dressed as a girl – and everything fell into place.
CONTRASTING settings reveal some of England’s most beautiful landscapes in all their glory .
SAT ON top of a Brazilian turtle’s head, this little ladybird looks content as he studies his environment from a new height .
It’s a role reversal in the Visayan Sea as HUNDREDS of tiny, glistening eggs are carried around inside the mouth of their cardinalfish father .
LIFTING their heads high and bumping beaks, these aggressive pelicans clash over fish .
A little clownfish opens its mouth to reveal a blood sucking intruder living on its tongue .
With their guts spewing and eyes hanging out, these are the cuddly toys children might be reluctant to curl up to .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
A US firefighter has battled osteoarthritis and four hip replacements to break the world paddleboarding record .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
HUDDLING under a leaf, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls take shelter from the rain .
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS - 250 DRIVERS ARRESTED FOR STREET RACING IN BIRMINGHAM- In Pic - The start line on the Heartlands Parkway Nechels Birmingham .
If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters .