Billy Corgan is embracing his unique self and encouraging others to do the same.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, 57, recently shared a candid post on Instagram, where he showcased his port wine birthmark and urged his followers to "find peace with who you are."
"I'm a fan of body positivity movements because, ultimately, they celebrate what makes each of us unique," wrote the two-time Grammy winner.
The post featured a picture of Corgan wearing a purple sweater with rolled-up sleeves, revealing the birthmark that extends across his hand, wrist, and arm. He also included an image of model Carlotta Bertotti, highlighting her as an example of someone "who has embraced her 'difference' with grace."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, port wine stains are caused by abnormal capillaries — small blood vessels just beneath the skin — that become overly dilated and stretched. While these birthmarks are usually benign, they often darken and thicken over time, potentially becoming raised.
Corgan went on to explain why he once felt uncomfortable with his birthmark.
"My point being that throughout my life, I’ve tried to conceal my 'port wine' birthmarks because, as you might guess, I was teased relentlessly as a child," he shared.
He continued, "So much so that people who’ve known me for ten years are often surprised when they finally notice it. Even today, strangers stop me on the street, not because they recognize me, but because they think I have a medical condition that needs urgent attention."
After listing some of the questions he frequently faced — like "Are you sick?" or "Is it contagious?" — Corgan concluded his post with a "positive message for the day."
"Whoever you are, I hope you find peace with who you are because I’d like to meet that person and no one else," he expressed.
This heartfelt post comes just days after Corgan confirmed that he and his wife, Chloé Mendel Corgan, 31, are expecting their third child together.
"We are thrilled to share that our family is growing! It's a joyous moment for us, even if it was unexpected," Chloé told. The new addition will join the couple’s two children, Philomena, 5, and Augustus, 8.
The Quran - Chapter Al-Haqqah : 16 - 17
The sky will then be so torn that it will be frail,
with the angels on its sides. On that Day eight ˹mighty angels˺ will bear the Throne of your Lord above them.
