A woman who was asked to appear on TV show Too Ugly For Love? has posted selfies showing off her large facial birthmark and says she is no longer prepared to cover it up with makeup.

Photos shared by Lexxie Harford, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, revealing the red mark, which covers the right hand side of her face, have been liked more than 100,000 times on social media site Imgur.

The 23-year-old, who also turned down an invitation to star on Channel 4's The Undateables and said her birthmark gets mistaken for a bruise, wrote that she wanted to start an open discussion to help debunk myths surrounding birthmarks.

Photos shared by Lexxie Harford, from Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, revealing the red mark, which covers the right hand side of her face, have been liked more than 100,000 times on social media site Imgur

The 23-year-old, who also turned down an invitation to star on Channel 4's The Undateables and said her birthmark gets mistaken for a bruise, wrote that she wanted to start an open discussion to help debunk myths surrounding birthmarks

Lexxie, a character artist, said it wasn't until she was nine years old that she released she was 'different' and as a teenager, she would cover her birthmark with makeup.

However, she said that one day - 'I don't even know why' - she decided that she wasn't prepared to mask her face any more, and says 'it's never bothered me since'.

So Lexxie, who also revealed she has one green and one blue eye, took to social media, posting selfies of her face, and says she has been left overwhelmed with the positive response.

Along with the images, she posted: 'A lot of people are curious, or a lot of people with birthmarks cover them, so I like to raise awareness.'

Lexxie's post on Imgur has had more than 100,000 views and more than 700 comments

Delighted the response her selfies, Lexxie, shown here with make up, said: 'It was really amazing in terms of the fact that I've always wanted to raise awareness; I just never figured out how'

The questions came rolling in. In response to one about public reaction she wrote: 'I've gotten the odd asshole who asked who hit me, but it's been rare.

'Sometimes I'm asked if it's a bruise. Doesn't offend me.'

In another she explained: 'I'm absolutely not self conscious about it at all. I actually like it a lot.'

Lindydanny responded: 'Gal I went to school with had one like yours. I regret often how I treated her. I don't know her now, though i hope she is well and happy.'

To which Lexxie replied: 'This post made me happy. Like, in the way of you admitting that. I hope she's happy too, but also proud of you. :)'

ZeroZeta added: 'Your birthmark looks awesome!'

And IAmYourSenpai wrote: 'I still think you're gorgeous with or without it.'

Lexxie revealed that she had previously been asked to appear on television dating shows featuring people with people with medical conditions - including TLC's Too Ugly For Love? and Channel 4's The Undateables

Delighted the response her selfies, the freelance digital artist and illustrator told ABC News: 'It was really amazing in terms of the fact that I've always wanted to raise awareness; I just never figured out how.'

The next time they see someone with a birthmark they won't forget. They'll know what it is and they won't get freaked out

Describing the affect she hopes she has had on public's perception she said: 'The next time they see someone with a birthmark they won't forget. They'll know what it is and they won't get freaked out.'

Lexxie revealed that she had previously been asked to appear on television dating shows featuring people with people with medical conditions - including TLC's Too Ugly For Love? and Channel 4's The Undateables.

But she said she turned down both offers, adding that if people with birthmarks accepted themselves 'they really wouldn't go on a show like that'.

She told the BBC that she's been contacted by a lot of mothers about their children with birthmarks who are concerned about how they will grow up.

She added that she has also been asked if she's in an abusive relationship: 'A lot of people think it's a bruise. The whole thing that I want to do is teach people what a birthmark is so they don't think it's a bruise - and people might feel more comfortable showing it off.'