A woman who started growing facial hair aged 13 has revealed why she has finally decided to embrace her beard - after spending $10,000 on laser removal.
Tori Sunshine, from Boston, Massachusetts, first noticed two black long hairs on her chin when she was just a teenager which grew increasingly prominent over time.
In addition to her facial hair, the digital creator, now 34, also struggled with painful and heavy periods before being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - a condition which affects how the ovaries work.
From the age of just 16, she was forced to shave daily in order to hide her beard but she has now decided to embrace it as she insisted it does not 'define her.'
Tori struggled with symptoms of PCOS from a young age before being diagnosed at age 13.
'My mom noticed I had too black hairs on my chin. They were very long,' she recalled.
'I was always upset about the facial hair. I always thought, "Are they noticing it? Can they see it?"
'I'm a girly girl. I don't love the look of it aesthetically.'
Tori, who also struggled with weight gain and developed an eating disorder, was put on birth control to try and help her symptoms.
But she did not find anything suitable that stopped the growth of her facial hair, explaining: 'I had to shave every single day.'
So, Tori went to see a laser hair specialist at aged 20 but did not find her first round very successful.
However, after getting a bigger salary, she paid for laser hair removal again, and even hid her facial hair from husband, Matt Sobota, 31, a travel nurse.
She said: 'I could afford laser hair removal again. There was so much hair.'
Tori did notice the treatment worked but felt 'defeated' when it started to grow back.
'There was nothing I could do about it. I told myself I should accept [it]. It's a part of my life. Deal with it.'
Tori started to get more comfortable with her facial hair and began sharing her story online.
She said: 'I had so many comments saying, "I have this," or, "Wow, I thought I was the only one."
'I remembered my 15-year-old self used to cry at her reflection. If I had seen myself back then it would have been life-changing. I needed to show up for myself and all the other girls.'
Tori continued: 'I want to normalize girls who grow facial hair.
'There are so many other things about me that make me worthy and wonderful. This isn't a defining thing.'
Although Tori does still shave and get rid of her facial hair, she is less self-conscious about it, and will go five to six days without touching it.
She said: 'I know now there are so many different things about me, that are amazing and great.
'This is just one tiny thing about me.'
She wants to change public perceptions around female facial hair, adding: 'I just want everyone to know this is normal. You are not alone.
'There are so many amazing things about you. Your condition can feel so defining.
'Don't let it rob you of your big beautiful life.'
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