It may look odd, but in the Ethiopian Suri tribe, this enormous lip plate is actually a sign of beauty. When girls hit puberty they have their bottom two teeth removed in a bizarre ritual before a small hole is cut into their bottom lip.
A clay disc is then inserted into the hole, which is steadily increased, stretching the lip, much like flesh-tunnel piercings which have become popular with teenagers in the UK.
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The larger the lip plate the more cows the girl's father can demand in dowry when his daughter is married - usually 40 for a small plate and 60 for a larger one.
Men on the other hand take part in the considerably less-painful ritual of body painting.
In recent years, some young women from the tribes are refusing to have their lips pierced, and removing their teeth can be a violent and sometimes traumatising task.
When a Suri girl reaches puberty her two bottom teeth are removed and a small clay plate inserted which is slowly increased.
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