OK, can we TALK about the new campaign by Cover Girl for their TruBlend Liquid Makeup?
It features a model with vitiligo, Amy Deanna, and it is fucking awesome.
Plain and simple.
I was diagnosed with vitiligo when I was 6 years old…so 24 years ago.
aging myself here.
When I was diagnosed there was not much research or information that was available to understand what vitiligo was.
It became slightly sensationalized by Michael Jackson fans who believed that he had the condition.
For Michael it started on his hand…hence the one glove. Whether he let the condition run its natural course is still up to date. Some say he bleached his skin…
anyways.
Yeah, as you can imagine, bleaching your skin isn’t good for you.
Vitiligo – “is a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches. The extent and rate of color loss from vitiligo is unpredictable. It can affect the skin on any part of your body. It may also affect hair and the inside of the mouth. Normally, the color of hair and skin is determined by melanin. Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning. Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious. It can be stressful or make you feel bad about yourself. Treatment for vitiligo may restore color to the affected skin. But it does not prevent continued loss of skin color or a recurrence.”
My vitiligo spread quite rapidly and I was fully “white” by the time I turned 24. This is not normal for the condition. Most people live with segmented (or random) patches their whole lives instead of turning to one color completely. I guess you can say it’s a blessing and a curse.
I no longer have to deal with the stares and questions – however, it does feel like a constant struggle to prove how Indian I am, since I don’t physically look like it.
that’s a different story for another day.
I LOVE that models like Winnie Harlow and Amy Deanna are being recognized for the talents! Just because someone looks a certain way it shouldn’t prohibit them for making their dreams come true.
It’s great that a huge brand like Cover Girl is working hard to show INCLUSION and DIVERSITY in the products they sell, which brands like Fenty and KKW Beauty are already doing. SO many color tones to choose from. We don’t all look the same. We all have different attributes and that’s what makes us unique.
Vitiligo isn’t a defining characteristic. It is a cosmetic disorder. It doesn’t define me, and I am sure it doesn’t define Amy or Winnie either.
It’s about time we see different types of women; color, size, shape, ethnicity commercialized and advertised too.
It is important to find beauty and confidence in YOUR OWN SKIN and to CELEBRATE THAT.
The beauty industry still has a long way to go…but you know what…any type of progression is positive. Let’s keep this up.
Xx
K
SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS
18 comments
Such a great post, glad to hear about people coming forward and sharing their experiences which must be hard. You do look very beautiful.
You are too kind! I am just SO happy its OK to be different <3
This is such a great post. I have vitiligo too – it affects my eyebrows and eyelashes, as well as skin. This is the first time I’ve seen Cover Girl’s advert but I will definitely be checking out their foundation after seeing it!
How do you feel about living with it? I think its great how positive you are!
What a great post to raise awareness of this condition. I think you are beautiful and so is everyone with this condition, I know it must be hard to deal with the stares though.
I totally love your post. It’s the first time that I read about vitiligo. I mean, I saw a model with that (and of course Michael Jackson) but I never “googled” it. So I amazed that your skin changed completely and I’m now more curious about it and to know how your life also changed (as you can say, for you now its difficult to explain that you’re Indian). I’m so happy that make up brands now are more concerned of that. I also noticed that L’oreal has launched more skin tones so it’s good to see that they are thinking more activetly in every single woman.
My life has changed a lot! Now i just want to make people aware and celebrate diversity!
Oh wow! You are so beautiful and brave! Congratulations to you and all the best for future endeavors. You are an inspiration . 😀
You look gorgeous girl . I must say you are very brave and strong personality . This post might encourage other girls to embrace their skin as it is . All thanks to you!
I love this! I work for a company that manufactures UV light therapy for skin conditions like vitiligo and have seen how it really affects people, but the strong like Winnie Harlow and Amy Deanna never let it stop them from anything. What a beautiful post and a great way to encourage and motivate others with it as well.
Have you seen the therapy bring back pigmentation yet? So interesting!
So much yes to this post! It’s so important to showcase all the different kinds of beauty…because there sure are so many to choose from in the world. P.s I love how happy you look as a kid!
lol, those pics….
This is such a beautiful post! Equal opportunities for everyone! I really believe that true beauty should be skin deep!
it’s what’s underneath that counts, no matter how cheesy that sounds
I agree that it’s so great to see that people can show beauty in all sizes, shapes and colors. That’s cool that Covergirl is doing so much to support this.
My ex and father of my two amazing kids has vitiligo… so does one of my very close friends… I think the commercial is a wonderful message and I was happy when I saw it! it’s the start in the right direction in the beauty field, embracing differences and what makes us unique instead of trying to look like everyone else, which to me is boring as heck! Stand out and be proud!
Exactly! how does you ex feel about it?