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.
SPURTING water 20ft into the air, this is one well you wouldn't want to dip your bucket into .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
A pair of BEAUTIFUL rescue sea turtles spot their catch in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef .
MESMERIZING night sky photographs offer a spellbinding look at the stars .
WITH A STERN look of determination on their faces, these adorable pooches perfect their doggy paddle as they dive head first into a swimming pool .
SLEEPING within touching distance of wild African animals might not be everyone's idea of a relaxing break .
A pair of adorable polar bear cubs play-fight with each other in the Alaskan snow .
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
FROM A mini table and chairs to a detailed violin, it’s hard to believe these incredible sculptures are all carved into the nib of PENCILS .
INSIDE Britain's last Naval hospital where scurvy was cured looks like an NHS time capsule .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
An adorable orangutan named Pongo celebrates his first birthday at Zoo Atlanta, Georgia, America .