When mum Karyn Manser saw the marks on her baby Hope's face, scalp and spine, she presumed they were just bruises. The child was born by assisted delivery.
When the nurse told her they were birthmarks, Karyn (38) figured they'd fade with time.
But the next day, she and hubby Matthew learned that in fact her little girl had congenital melanocytic nevus, or CMN.
A rare disorder, it affects about one in 20,000 newborns in some form, and as few as one in 500,000 in its more severe form.
The marks can exist on any part of the body, and be either small, medium, large or giant - and Hope is in the giant category.
Most nevi, or birthmarks as they're generally known, are brown or black in coloue, and are likely to develop hair.
Fortunately, although she is at increased risk of melanoma, Hope's condition is largely cosmetic.
But her mum thinks it makes her even more beautiful.
"She has developed beautifully without any problems," Karyn told Daily Mail Australia. "She was born to stand out, I think."
Of course, Karyn is aware that kids who are in any way different can struggle, which is why she's hoping to raise awareness of the condition, and make people see the beautiful child in front of them, not just their differences.
"If people understand the condition, they don't look at her differently," she said.
"It's just getting people to accept that everyone is different and embracing it and embracing your uniqueness.
Not judging people for what's on the outside."
As Hope has grown she has developed more birthmarks, first on the soles of her feet and then her legs and arms, and her existing marks have grown fine hair.
They will continue to appear until she reaches the age of 30.
"They're all different sizes, but the major one on her scalp is mainly hidden by her hair," she said.
"There's one on her forehead, but she has a fringe, and a little beauty mark on her right cheek."
"I look at her every day and couldn't imagine her without them."
