Ferrin Roy was born with a dark birthmark across the right side of her face, under her eye and across her cheek.
She says she has received a number of negative comments over the years about her appearance but was not going to feel bullied into covering up the birthmark on her wedding day.
Posting to Instagram Roy says, 'How do I cope with negativity, enemies, haters, etc???? I smile because I'm aware of the process they undergo! Talk about me, force ppl to find me, they see the good in me, and the enemy becomes my footstool! The process continues to repeat itself until they find someone new to hate on! This is the HAPPIEST I have ever been in my life!'
Talking to Daily Mail, Ferrin also says, 'My smile is radiant and no one can put a damper on my smile, enthusiasm or confidence. I completely embrace my birthmark. I never covered it and never will, I love answering questions about it and I just feel so good.'
The 30-year-old mother-of-two has penned a book about overcoming society's 'perceptions of beauty', titled 'The mark she kept: A woman's journey to living her purpose courageously.'
Roy says she hopers her personal journey 'is not only raising awareness but it's helping others embrace their uniqueness.'
'Surprisingly the second I became free of insecurities questions from others stopped tremendously,' she adds.
Roy finishes, 'I will always be myself and no one is worth me changing who I am. My advice is to focus on self-love instead of searching for love from others. Once you accept who you are, others will have no choice but to accept you.'
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
