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Love me, love my birthmark- Dancer, 22 proud of her face
Love me, love my birthmark: Professional dancer, 22, REFUSES cosmetic surgery and says she is proud of the way she looks
- Cassandra Naud was born with a large birthmark under her right eye
- Her parents decided not to have it removed as she would be left with scars
- 22-year-old was bullied at school but now embraces her individuality
- Works as a dancer and says her birthmark helps her stand out
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A professional dancer has refused to have plastic surgery to remove her birthmark as she has chosen to embrace her individuality.
Cassandra Naud, 22, says she loves her unique appearance and even credits her birthmark for making her memorable in her industry.
The dancer, from Alberta, Canada, who was once told by a casting agent to digitally erase her birthmark from her headshots, says that she believes it is a positive attribute.
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'My birthmark is a huge part of me,' she says.
'It makes me unique and memorable, which is especially important for the career I've chosen.'
When Cassandra was born with a huge brown birthmark on her right cheek, her parents, Richard, 60, a power engineer, and France, 50, a school caretaker, were given the option to have it removed, but concerned that it would leave her face heavily scarred, they decided against it.
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Cassandra, pictured with her mother and father, says she is thrilled that neither she or her parents went through with the removal of her birthmark
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With her envious dancer body and gorgeous smile, Cassandra is used to attracting attention from strangers, but she says people are often very curious when they notice her birthmark.
'People come up to me in the street and ask me about it. I don't shy away from questions - it's natural to be curious.
'It's covered in hair which makes it difficult to disguise, but I honestly don't mind. I know some people might feel sorry for me, but I'm confident in how I look.'
Cassandra hasn't always been so confident as during her school years, she was the victim of cruel taunts from bullies.
She says: 'They'd taunt me saying: "You'll get beat up in high school" and "The hair on your cheek is gross".
'Their cruel remarks were hard to deal with and I'd often fight back tears. I felt ugly - even if only for that moment - and I was terrified of how I'd be treated once I got to high school.'
After years of bullying, Cassandra was plagued by feelings of wanting to fit in and, aged 13, she gave her mum some shocking news.
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She has previously been told by casting directors to have it removed from headshots but she has chosen to ignore them as she thinks it helps her stand out in the industry
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She says: 'I told my mum that I wanted to remove my birthmark. My parents were shocked but understanding of my decision and immediately booked an appointment with a plastic surgeon.
'He explained the scarring I'd be left with and I immediately changed my mind. I figured it wouldn't be worth it and told my mum that I'd prefer to keep my individuality.
'It was a moment of madness, but I'm so glad I made the decision to keep it.'
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Cassandra's birthmark has not prevented her from finding love with boyfriend Patrick Cook
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And now the dancer wants to urge other people to love themselves - exactly as they are.
She says: 'People should appreciate their individuality.
'Times are changing, so don't worry about looking normal. Don't let bullies stop you and be proud of your uniqueness.'
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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...#ixzz3VJO5hJbt
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