In 1993, a baby boy named Tomm Tennent was born in South East Australia—and left doctors completely stunned. He entered the world with so much extra skin, he looked like a toddler at birth. Ultrasounds had hinted something was unusual, but nothing prepared his parents for what they’d see in the delivery room.

“When I first held him, my heart jumped to my throat,” his mother Debbie recalled. “But it was also beautiful.”

Tomm had a condition no one could explain at first. Doctors later discovered he had an extremely high level of hyaluronic acid—much like Shar Pei puppies, whose skin smooths out as they grow. They hoped the same would happen for Tomm.

It did.

After spending over two months in the hospital, Tomm slowly began growing into his skin. The wrinkles faded with time, but growing up still came with tough moments—teasing, stares, and being treated differently. Despite it all, Tomm stayed strong.

Now in his 30s, Tomm lives a quiet life in Victoria, Australia, with his wife Hannah. He doesn’t post much online, but his simple message says it all:
“Life’s simple. You make choices, and you don’t look back.”

From shocking doctors to inspiring countless people, Tomm’s journey is proof that beauty isn’t about how you’re born—it’s about how you grow.