Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This stunning Italian model has told fans to never “feel alone in diversity” after fulfilling her dreams despite having a large birthmark on one side of her face.

Carlotta Bertotti, 22, from the Italian city of Turin, has a Nevus of Ota over her right eye that she used to keep covered until a few years ago.

Nevus of Ota, caused by the entrapment of melanocytes in the upper third of the dermis, produces hyperpigmentation of the eye and surrounding skin area.

Carlotta explained: “Since I was about eight years old, I always used makeup to disguise it because I could not accept how my appearance could be so different from everyone else.”

However, thanks to Italian modelling agency I’MPERFETTA, Carlotta showed that she was talented enough to break into the often discriminatory world of fashion, helping her to become an icon of body positivity for her young fans.

She told her followers: “Hiding makes you so unhappy. Don’t feel alone in diversity.”

Last week, the beautiful model said on Instagram: “It’s not usual to people to try to separate me from my birthmark.

“Over the years, I’ve heard infinite versions of the same comment: ‘She’d be so beautiful, if it weren’t for the mark’.

“I felt like I could be the absolute best of myself and always beautiful enough.

“The way people saw me would always be influenced by a feature I haven’t asked for, and could neither control.

“Today, I don’t draw my self-worth from my appearance. I’m still trying to be the best version of myself, but this time, it’s all inside.

“I know now that the way someone reacts to my birthmark will tell me much more about their personality than it will ever tell them about mine.

“Bearing that attitude and what people think about my birthmark can be so hard, but today, I know I am the best version of myself and I’m so proud of the changes I’ve made.”