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.’
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
Staring death in the face, a little field mouse bravely confronts a hungry cat .
Peering curiously into a basket hanging off the arms of a snowman, this little squirrel appears fascinated by the snowy figure .
With a dust covered coat hung from a wardrobe door and a pair of glasses left on a shelf, a remote farmhouse lies abandoned in the Welsh countryside .
A woman has spoken of her heartbreak after she was rejected by an adoption agency because of her pregnancy phobia .
An intrepid explorer hopes to be reunited with his travel partner, after his cuddly toy companion was stolen .
A frilled lizard appears to be belting out a tune as it sits in a tree with its mouth open wide .
An obese woman has lost 9st after an addiction to junk food left her £1 .
In 2021, Anneka Watkinson, now 37, from Lancashire, met Chris, now 40 .
A mother has spoken of her outrage after discovering her missing cat had been stolen - only to be told she cannot have its location due to the Data Protection Act .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
An Italian photographer travelled to northern India where he visited poverty stricken suburbs and captured ordinary people in a series of intimate and expressive portraits .