'I'm not mad': A child who had boiling water poured over her face in a prank holds no grudges

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT: An 11-year-old has told how she is not angry despite being a victim of a horrific "prank" when a friend poured boiling water on her face at a sleepover.

Jamoneisha 'Jamoni' Merritt, from the Bronx in New York, suffered burns to 85 per cent of her face after boiling water was thrown on her as she slept, on August 7.

Shocking photos show the young girl crying in pain with blisters covering her swollen face following the incident.

"I can't be angry, I have to be happy," she told ABC7 while recovering.

"I started screaming and yelling. At first when I was in the hospital, I was looking sad and stuff, and crying.

"Now when I'm home, I just smile, dance and get ready for tomorrow."

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“Now I’m dancing and listening to music,” she said.

Jamoni said a friend, who had been previously bullying her, threatened to scald her with the water if she fell asleep. But Jamoni said she was exhausted from dancing and closed her eyes while lying on the couch.

She was woken by the water burning her face and her friend's mother put her in the shower.

Jamoni was released from hospital after 11 days and must avoid extended periods in the sun until her wounds heal.

Her mother said she will need to be home-schooled for the short term and doctors said it will be six months before she regains all the colour in her face.

A 12-year-old was taken into custody following the incident and charged with felony assault, but the victim's mother wants two other girls and the girls' mother to also face charges.

"I just want justice for Jamoni," she told ABC7.

It is believed the prank was inspired by YouTube videos labeled the "hot water challenge."