The Rare Medical Condition Perrie Edwards Was Born With

Perrie Edwards experienced a scary health setback straight out of the womb. She was born with a birth defect called esophageal atresia, which is caused by the esophagus failing to form correctly, according to the CDC. As reported by Metro, Edwards had to undergo multiple surgical procedures to repair her esophagus. In a series of posts on her Instagram Story, she thanked the NHS, the U.K.’s public healthcare system, for performing the surgeries, and she shared photos taken during her stay at the hospital.

One image showed Edwards as a child looking down at a scar on her stomach. In a 2012 interview with Heat (via HuffPost), the “Black Magic” singer revealed that the scar was what she disliked most about her body. “I had to have lots of operations, so that’s why I don’t want to show it,” she said. However, she eventually embraced the mark, which started making appearances on her Instagram page. In one photo, she was pictured showing off her bare torso while channeling her inner sea siren. “Mermaids have freckles and scars too … embrace them. I think they’re beaut!” she wrote.

Edwards has also shared her thoughts about learning to love her freckles. On the talk show “Lorraine,” she revealed that she was teased about them as a child but later came to a confidence-boosting realization. “You should embrace your insecurities because that’s what makes you different and unique,” she said.