Lee Conderacci struggled with her huge birthmark when she was a teenager.

The 36-year-old admits it affected her confidence and left her feeling self-conscious, especially when it came to dating.

But now she has embraced her differences with a series of stunning snaps that she has shared on Instagram.

Lee's birthmark spans her neck and chest after she was born with a large congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) –  a type of brown birthmark covering her upper body.

She had constantly tried to cover it up but after stumbling on an online community of people with CMNs, Lee found her joy of life reaffirmed.

Lee, of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, who has also happily found love with Mike, who she met four years ago when they performed in a local theatre group together said: "When I hit my teens, while I didn’t feel my skin was ugly, weird or bad, I worried other people would.

“I wondered if I would ever find love, but, in reality, my birthmark has been a blessing in disguise, as it’s helped me weed out superficial, disingenuous jerks and I am now in a wonderful relationship.

"Now I know that, rather than hiding it away, it's my birthmark that makes me special and meeting other people with CMNs has instilled me with even more pride and joy. I am proud of them and I'm proud of me."

Born with her CNM which, in about  one per cent of cases, can occur after the first year of life rather than at birth, according to the charity Caring Matters, Lee, who is also studying for a Masters degree in communication, never felt particularly self conscious in her early years.

She explained: “My parents were amazing, and it was never instilled in me that I had this condition. It was just thought of as my mark.

“They protected me, like any parent, but didn’t scaremonger or handle me with kid gloves.

“They told me all the time I was beautiful, powerful and strong. It was only when I got older that I realised how hard they would have had to work to make sure I never grew up afraid.”

Lee’s positivity began to waver when she hit her teens and she started fretting over what other people thought of her.

As a result, she would cover up more and more, with big jumpers or long sleeved T-shirts, even when she was on the beach.

Lee said: “Going out into the world looking like this gets lots of attention, and sometimes you simply don’t want to deal with it.”

But as the internet came into its own and social media was born Lee began looking online for information about birthmarks.

And she was filled with emotion when – having never met a community of people who looked like her before – she found a  group of people who also had CMNs.

Soon forging online friendships with other people living with visible birthmarks, Lee realised she should not be hiding her own away and began to flaunt it, proudly.

She explained: “I realised I had to go beyond accepting myself and embrace myself. My birthmark is what makes me special – it’s a part of me.

“I admit that  the first time I went out with my birthmark on show, wearing a strappy top and with my hair up so you could see it all, did make me nervous.

“But I just kept telling myself over and over in my head that I should live life the way I want, and wear what I want.”

Now, those nerves are a distant memory and, her confidence at an all time high, Lee has even set up an Instagram account where she shares candid selfies, in a bid to encourage others to join her body positive mission.

Despite now loving her unusual skin, however, Lee has found herself the subject of thoughtless comments and stares.

She added: “The mind boggles at what adults think it’s acceptable to say. People seem to have this grotesque curiosity and feel entitled to ask whatever they want.

“I’ll constantly get people asking me what it is or giving me tips on how to hide it, and sometimes I'm just not in the mood for that kind of attention.

“One of the worst places is bars, as people are drinking so their inhibitions are down.

"I’ve been asked if it’s a tattoo or why I have paint all over me. Men have even used it as an ice-breaker!

“I try my best to handle it with grace and explain politely that it’s a birthmark.

“But I do get lots of positivity, too – particularly now I’m more confident about showing it off.

"I don’t mind people asking me questions, but it all comes down to what their intention is.”

Through her Instagram, Lee now receives messages from all over the world –  often from other people battling with self-esteem issues.

And, by speaking out, she hopes to encourage anybody living with birthmarks – or other physical differences – to embrace the way they look.

She said: “Everyone has their own process for accepting themselves, but the best advice I can give is to keep repeating affirmations to yourself, that you are beautiful, and strong.

“You may not believe it at first, but you one day will.

“I’ve gone from feeling so awkward and uncomfortable about myself, and about life, to going out there every day and rocking it.”

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