A woman born with a birthmark on her forehead, which grows long hairs, has shared the trolling she has been subject to – with people telling her to cut or laser off the “antenna”.
Rada Prelevic has had a mark on her head with long hairs growing from her forehead, underneath her hairline, since birth.
The 18-year-old model has been inundated with comments on social media from people criticising her unique look – but she insists she loves it and has grown to embrace her differences.
“My comments sections are filled with hate – I receive hate daily online,” Rada, from Norway, told What’s The Jam.
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“People are super mean about it.
“I receive so much hate, both online and in real life.
“Some people at school love to just ask me what it is, and then give me looks.
“[On social media others] will be hitting my DMs and writing long messages telling me I should get rid of it, laser it, or cut it.
“One person even wrote to me that he would find me and cut it off while I’m asleep.
“That really scared me.
“I don’t feel safe anymore, because of a birthmark…I just don’t understand this world and this society today.”
Growing up, Rada’s experience was largely positive.
She said: “My birthmark has really been with me my whole life.
“It never bothered me.
“I remember as a little girl because I had been bullied in kindergarten because of it, ‘Mum, why do I have this thing on my forehead, why don’t my brothers have it?’
“And she would answer me in such a beautiful way – ‘Because you are unique’.
“I loved that answer, so when everyone would ask me why and what, I would just tell them, it’s because I’m unique.”
Rada started sharing clips of herself on TikTok but was horrified when posts went viral and garnered negative attention due to her forehead.
In one post, which attracted 2.4 million views, she explained her feelings towards her mark and the trolling she has received.
She says: “I’m not going to shave it off.
“I think it’s so pretty and that I’m so lucky to have it.
“You don’t see this [the mark] every day, and I love it.
“I don’t feel weird – I feel pretty and unique.”
Commenting on the clip, one user said: “It’s all I stare at.”
“Wow I didn’t know is possible,” said another viewer.
Someone else described it as an “antenna”.
Other users begged her to laser or cut it, while another person said: “I want to pull it off”.
Someone else commented: “Oh no that would drive me insane. I’d probably just have bangs to hide it. But hey it’s on you and you like it so you do you!”
But other viewers loved the mark.One person said: “Why are people so mean?? I LOVE IT??? It’s like the same vibes as an eyebrow slit or something but the opposite it’s so cool.”
“You are breath of fresh air. We love a confident queen. Stunning,” said another fan.
Someone else commented: “You are pretty and unique. I hope the nasty comments don’t wear you down, I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with people.”
“It is unique to you! People are uncomfortable when others don’t look like them,” said another viewer.
