A young woman has told how a rare facial syndrome causes her eye to 'bulge' when she chews - and turned down surgery to get it fixed.

Marion Karawia, 35, was five years old when her parents first noticed her eye bulging while she was eating her food.

And after taking her to the doctor she was diagnosed with Marcus Gunn Syndrome (MGS) - where her jaw movements trigger her left eyelid to 'lift' due to a nerve rewiring.

Marion says when she was growing up it affected her self-esteem especially when making new friends in school or when going on dates.

The skin care business co-founder has also revealed she could have surgery to have it "fixed" but decided against it saying she "loves" it - adding the imperfection is what makes her "unique"."

Marion, from Los Angeles, USA, said: "As a girl growing up in my teens it was tough to navigate."

"When I move my jaw it looks like my eye is bulging but it is just my eyelid moving dramatically."

"It was especially tough when going on dates or making new friends. "

"I would try to hide it in some way or another or avoid eating."

"I could have had surgery but as it doesn't cause any pain or affect my vision, it would be more cosmetic."

"I realised that I didn't want to or have to feel the need that I needed to 'fix' myself and make it out as such a big deal."

"I have grown, I am who I am, and I love it."

MGS is a congenital syndrome meaning Marion was born with the condition.

She said she struggled the most as a teenager and in her early twenties which with it impacting her self-confidence.

Marion said: "No one I knew had it - I am the only person in my family who has it."

"To this day, other than the people who I have met through sharing my story, I have never bumped into someone with MGS."

"It took a long time to come to terms with it, about 15 years."

"Luckily I wasn't bullied as such, but it still didn't stop me from being bothered by it."

"I always felt I was different."

"As much as physically, it also really affected me mentally as at times it was really tough."

She said it also had an impact on her social life especially when on dates with boys.

Marion said: "If I were to get food with them I would specifically try and not look down whilst chewing so it wouldn't show as much if I did."

"Or I would try to minimise it by chewing slower and looking forward."

"It made things stressful and meant I couldn't enjoy myself as much."

Marion is now happily married to her husband, Karim, 34, who she says never took note of her syndrome.

She said: "I've asked him 'have you ever noticed?' and he said 'yeh I did but never thought anything of it'."

"Though he did say he had never seen anything like it before."

Marion started sharing her story on social media - marionsworldd - to help spread awareness and help build confidence in other people who may suffer from MGS.

She said: "It's crazy to think that something as simple as eating can have such an impact on people's lives."

"For me, over time it got better. "

"I had to stop pretending that it wasn't and part of me and accept that it is there whenever I move my jaw."

"I'm sharing my story to help those who have been bullied, embarrassed, or insecure about MGS or any physical condition. "

"You are seen, you are special, and you are loved."

"I love my MGS, it is a part of me, and it always will be."