Model Winnie Harlow says she wishes there had been more information about vitiligo when she was growing up.
“The ability to share knowledge is very powerful for me,” said Harlow, who was diagnosed at age four People in a recent interview. She expressed relief that there are now “options and choices” for people living with the autoimmune disease that causes skin pigment to appear in spots.
The model, 31, has also teamed up with pharmaceutical company Incyte to launch ThisIsVitiligo.com, a site that provides resources and support for people with vitiligo/
“Regardless of having vitiligo, children face constant bullying,” she added. “And so being able to have those safe places, whether it’s your friends or your family, and being yourself is really crucial to building a strong, confident child.”
Harlow hopes her openness can help others feel more confident in their own skin. “I love that throughout my career I’ve been able to just be myself, and by being myself, other people can feel comfortable being themselves,” she said.
She also reflected on her modeling career as a pioneer in representation.
“When it comes to modeling, I feel like every opportunity I was able to pursue felt so much more powerful because it was groundbreaking. It was a door that hadn’t been opened before, and it made everything feel so much more worthwhile,” she continued.
“To be able to be that person for others is a gift because I didn’t have that growing up.”
Looking ahead, the Just Winnie The author wants vitiligo to be normalized so that it no longer defines a person’s story.
