Despite of her physical appearance, 19-year-old Chantelle also known as Winnie Harlow, manage to conquer her fear and took courage for possible discrimination as she suffers from a rare skin disease vitiligo.
Though she is suffering from vitiligo, it never hindered Chantelle to go on and pursue her dream becoming a model.
If you can still remember, the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson, he also suffers from vitiligo turning his brown skin to white, which causes the cells responsible for skin pigmentation to die.
Chantelle’s skin started to changing pigmentation, when she was about three or four years old.
Chantelle admits that growing up is very tough for her,
as she was teased by other kids as “zebra” and “milky,”
despite of that Chantelle’s mother was always beside her to show support.
To pursue her dream becoming a model,
Chantelle moved to California from Canada as opportunities awaits her.
Chantelle definitely inspired those persons having this rare skin disease,
because even if she’s different,
still she accepted that God meant for her “to be original” and that’s “the way I’m supposed to be.”
Chantelle is the first model having a vitiligo.
She’s not only a model,
a catwalk star,
but she is also a vitiligo spokesperson.
Chantelle also appears in Asia’s Next Top Model,
and even appears in the latest ShowStudio campaign.
For Chantelle, acceptance has a terrible impact for those who suffers with this rare skin disease,
as she considered it as a blessing and not a curse from God.
Chantelle said, “I could take off all the brown skin and just be white. But I can not take off all the white skin and just be brown.”
If you will just accept and love yourself, a lot of opportunities will come.
