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This Teen Was Brutally Bullied For Having Over 500 Birthmarks, But Look At Her Now

Alba Parejo was born with over 500 birthmarks on her body and was brutally bullied as a child. Now, at 16 years old, Alba has found success and happiness by learning to love her skin condition, and the beautiful girl is encouraging others to do the same.

The Barcelona native suffers from a rare form of the skin disease called melanocytic nevus, which caused large moles and dark patches of skin to form all over her body and face. She had surgery to correct several areas as an infant, which has left her with major scarring. Though her peers called her a ‘monster’ and relentlessly tortured her, she bravely decided to pursue a modeling career with her unconventional beauty.

Alba’s beautiful photos have been featured on the cover of a local magazine, and she has done a number of professional photoshoots. She’s also campaigning for self-love, and spreading awareness of others living with skin disease. “I feel much more body positive and am trying to make my disease more well known in order to help other people,” the photo model wrote on a personal page.

More info: Instagram (h/t)

This is Alba Parejo, a 16-year-old who was born with large birthmarks all over her body

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-11

Image credits: Sonia and Andrés Burgos

She suffers from congenital melanocytic nevus, a rare disease that caused her to have over 500 of these marks

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-6

Image credits: Àngel Carbonell

Children with CMN are born with large, dark patches of skin that form ‘satellite’ moles across their bodies as Alba pictured here

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-3

Image credits: Alba Parejo

She underwent 30 surgeries to correct parts of her skin as an infant, and now has large areas of scarring

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-14

Image credits: Alba Parejo

As a child, Alba was horribly bullied, with her peers calling her a ‘monster’ and ‘dalmation’

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-10

Image credits: Alba Parejo

After years of struggling, she bravely decided to share her story and bare her skin to the world

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-1

Image credits: Alba Parejo

People responded very positively and she gained the courage to enter a modeling competition to become the public face for an empowerment campaign

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-2

Image credits: Alba Parejo

Now Alba is a model featured on billboards, buses and in newspapers

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-5

Image credits: Sonia and Andrés Burgos

“I feel much more body positive and am trying to make my disease more well known… to help other people” She wrote online

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-8

Image credits: Àngel Carbonell

She uses hashtags like #bareyourbirthmark on Instagram, encouraging others to embrace their skin

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-7

Image credits: Àngel Carbonell

Alba just keeps rising above her difficulties and empowering others, and we hope she never stops

bullied-student-congenital-melanocytic-nevus-model-alba-parejo-17

Image credits: Alba Parejo

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Just a Purpler 7 years ago

If I'm being honest here the scarring/birthmark on her legs kinda shocked me at first, but I do love her smile. The spots on the rest of her are honestly cute I think, it's kinda like a signature. Anyone else remember the lady with the random white strip of hair on her head? It's things like these that make us stand out! I'd love to have a mark like this! Definitely something to be proud of, I think they're beautiful. And dang, if anyone called me a Dalmatian, I'd say "thank you". I love those dawgs.

50points

Kayla Moonshine 7 years ago

I think her legs are the result of a surgery :/ (the major indent near the thighs - that's at least what it looks like). But I still think she looks lovely - nobody is perfect anyway. It's our imperfections that make us beautiful :)

7points

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Fabian Ahmed 7 years ago

Maybe you could have a wish for each spot if you were nice to her :) :-P sadly some people don't get this. I think the same, except of the brider areas, its very cute!

1point

Aunt Messy 7 years ago

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John L 7 years ago

The smile makes all the difference. And it can't be bullied either.

29points

Zori the degu 7 years ago

Her peers were idiots for bullying her. It is not her fault she was born like that. Anyway, she is a beautiful girl and she is unique! Oh, wait... I forgot most modern young people follow stereotypes and bully everyone who is a bit different in their appearance or understandings. It had happened to me only because unlike other people I love to write for nature and I like snakes, bugs, rats and other "nasty" animals.

12points

Susan Forbes 7 years ago

Not just modern young people :/ it's been going on as long as there has been people

29points

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Ly Nguyen 7 years ago

Lmao since when is this a "modern" or "young person" thing. Racism, homophobia, etc are all examples of bullying people who are different and they have been around forever.

11points

Olga 7 years ago

Do you realize that this, right here: " I forgot most modern young people follow stereotypes and bully everyone who is a bit different" is a great example of stereotype? You just decided that a HUGE group of people have the same characteristics and you based in on your singular experience.

7points

Ricky Couture 7 years ago

I completely disagree about "modern young people". I'm 29, and I can say that my peers were absolutely horrible, whereas people my little brother's age -- the 20 and under -- are, from what I've noticed, incredibly accepting, considerate, and interested. By far the most of any generation I've seen. They will collectively seek out bullyish behavior and confront it. Unlike people my age and older whom, non-coincidentally, elected a Supreme Bully to POTUS. The only thing that does give me hope is young people.

3points

Honolulu Storm 7 years ago

The diff is that prior generations DID NOT have social media to spread their ugliness and getting other trolls to join in like a pack of starving dogs. The bullying was more local, i.e. in school or in the public, but that's all it went as far as. Now they freakin' invade your internet life by posting their garbage all over the place. I was bullied for being different too (I was darker than other asians) but kids can be s**t heads no matter the generation

2points

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Just a Purpler 7 years ago

50points

Kayla Moonshine 7 years ago

7points

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Fabian Ahmed 7 years ago

Maybe you could have a wish for each spot if you were nice to her :) :-P sadly some people don't get this. I think the same, except of the brider areas, its very cute!

1point

Aunt Messy 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

John L 7 years ago

The smile makes all the difference. And it can't be bullied either.

29points

Zori the degu 7 years ago

12points

Susan Forbes 7 years ago

Not just modern young people :/ it's been going on as long as there has been people

29points

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Ly Nguyen 7 years ago

Lmao since when is this a "modern" or "young person" thing. Racism, homophobia, etc are all examples of bullying people who are different and they have been around forever.

11points

Olga 7 years ago

7points

Ricky Couture 7 years ago

3points

Honolulu Storm 7 years ago

2points

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This Teen Was Brutally Bullied For Having Over 500 Birthmarks, But Look At Her Now

This is Alba Parejo, a 16-year-old who was born with large birthmarks all over her body

She suffers from congenital melanocytic nevus, a rare disease that caused her to have over 500 of these marks

Children with CMN are born with large, dark patches of skin that form ‘satellite’ moles across their bodies as Alba pictured here

She underwent 30 surgeries to correct parts of her skin as an infant, and now has large areas of scarring

As a child, Alba was horribly bullied, with her peers calling her a ‘monster’ and ‘dalmation’

After years of struggling, she bravely decided to share her story and bare her skin to the world

People responded very positively and she gained the courage to enter a modeling competition to become the public face for an empowerment campaign

Now Alba is a model featured on billboards, buses and in newspapers

“I feel much more body positive and am trying to make my disease more well known… to help other people” She wrote online

She uses hashtags like #bareyourbirthmark on Instagram, encouraging others to embrace their skin

Alba just keeps rising above her difficulties and empowering others, and we hope she never stops

Stella

Stella