Billy Corgan shared glimpses of his “port wine” birthmarks in a statement encouraging body positivity on social media. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman posted a picture on Instagram featuring his prominent birthmark on his left hand and arm, which he has tried to keep hidden his whole life because of the teasing he received as a child. Corgan also shared an image of model Carla Bertotti, “a beautiful young woman with a birthmark who has embraced her ‘difference’ with grace,” writes Corgan. “I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us,’” Corgan wrote in the caption.

“My point being that my whole life I’ve endeavoured to hide my ‘port wine’ birthmarks because as you can imagine I was teased unmercifully about them as a child. So much so that people who have known me for a decade are shocked when they finally ‘see it’. So positive message for the day: Whoever you are, I hope you find peace with who you are because: I would like to know that person and no one else.” (Consequence of Sound)