Born Different

Amanda McLaughlin has Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) - a rare condition that means she feels as though she is always on the brink of orgasm. Incredibly painful, Amanda is under the care of Dr Gupta who is trying different therapies to try and help her. Amanda hopes to raise awareness of the disorder and find help by speaking out.

An inspirational boy with an ultra-rare genetic condition that makes him look like an old man refuses to let it hold him back – and even drives a car. Shreyash Barmate, 11 who lives in Madhya Pradesh, India, has progeria – a condition which causes rapid aging in children. The condition leaves Shreyash suffering from baldness, heavy wrinkles and weakened limbs. The Progeria Research Foundation believe the syndrome is so rare it affects around 1 in 20 million people.

A WOMAN who was born with one arm has defied the odds to become a two-time pole dancing world champion. Australian Deb Roach was born without her left arm but decided to take up pole dancing after being inspired by two pole dancers she saw performing in a club. Deb took to it so well that she now teaches the sport and has won two international championships.

A 3ft 8ins fashion blogger is proving that fashion is for all heights and sizes. 28-year-old Doris Jeong is a fashion blogger with dwarfism, and shares style tips for women all over the world on her blog "I Wear Shirts As Dresses". Her blog advises women on how to dress for your size and where to find pieces that are fit for fashionista's on the smaller side. Check out Doris's blog at:

A WOMAN suffering from a chronic illness that allows her to twist her body into mind-boggling shapes has turned it to her advantage - by becoming a contortionist. Scarlet Checkers has Ehlers-Dalos Syndrome (EDS) – a rare collagen disorder characterised by unusually stretchy skin and flexible joints – and could be confined to a wheelchair in the next 10 years. But rather than let the condition get her down, the 23-year-old has used it to her advantage, performing as a contortionist for her local community and wowing crowds with her incredible body manipulations. Scarlet, who was diagnosed with the condition just one year ago, told Barcroft Media: "I didn't want to turn my diagnosis into a pity party."

A MAN born without thighs is one of only 25 people in the world born with the condition. Nathan Hrdlicka, 34 from Santa Fe, New Mexico, has bilateral PFFD (Proximal femoral focal deficiency) type D - which means his knee bones are directly beneath his hip bones. As well as being only one in 25 people with the condition, he is the only one in the world who is able to walk. Despite his condition, Nathan, is in a loving relationship with his girlfriend, Chelsee Stuart, 19 who is at least a foot taller than him. Due to the location of his knee bones, Nathan's height is 4ft 6in, however doctors have said he would have grown to be over 6ft 4in.

AN 11-year-old boy with a rare form of dwarfism is one-in-a-million. Levi Krystosek, 11, has a rare form of dwarfism called Jansen Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia, which affects the growth of bones and causes considerable pain, meaning he is only 38 inches tall. There are approximately only 30 known cases of JMC in the world, and five genetically confirmed cases in the US.

AN INDIAN boy has stunned locals with his incredible body-bending abilities. Yash Shah, 18, from Surat in India can rotate his hands and legs at 360 degrees, and fingers and neck at 180 degrees. He can also dislocate his arms and legs, and squeeze his body through a tennis racket. Yash is now dreaming of fame and earning a Guinness World Record.

GROWING up as teenager is never easy, especially for Vinicios Sardi who was born without his lower legs. But six years ago the 21-year-old Brazilian found a way to accept his disability - skateboarding. Vinicios, from Sao Paulo in Brazil, admits he had always felt ashamed about his condition but that his passion for skateboarding is greater than the shame he felt about his legs. His ambition is now to become a professional skateboarder.