Shelly, 38, was never bothered about her facial port wine stain birthmark until she started high school. As fellow students made comments about her birthmark which made her feel “different” and “not as good”.
As Shelly got older she considered ways of covering up her birthmark, but instead decided to embrace it, which she said “helped shape her personality”.
Shelly joined the Be Real Ambassador team after noticing the two very different reactions she received in relation to her birthmark and tattoos. Whilst her tattoos received positive comments, her birthmark was either awkwardly avoided or comments were unintentionally offensive or hurtful.
She wants to encourage everyone to accept their imperfections and stop wasting time worrying about what they look like.