Winnie Harlow is much more than just your average fashion model. She got her start on the popular show America’s Next Top Model after being discovered by the queen “smizer” herself, Tyra Banks, through Instagram. Winnie has a rare skin disease called Vitiligo. Vitiligo is defined as “a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause.” Unlike others who may think this condition is ugly because she doesn’t look the same as everyone else, Winnie embraces her uniqueness and rocks it!
Along with the whole being an international model thing, this #WomanCrush also has the titles of Spokeswoman and Activist on her list of accomplishments. She is a great role model for people who have Vitiligo around the world to look up to, and one to inform those who have never heard of the disease. She also supports other relevant movements going on in today’s current society. At this years’ MTV VMA red carpet Winnie walked alongside Beyoncé and the mothers of victims of police brutality: Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Oscar Grant, making a statement. For Winnie, her success goes beyond modeling in fashionable clothes- although that has to be a huge plus! She uses her fame for good as a way to stand up for what she believes in and educate people about rare skin diseases like the one she has. Some may say her disease is labeled as a weakness in the all-about-appearances modeling and fashion industry, but Winnie uses it as strength and the colors of her skin aren’t stopping her anytime soon.
image source: https://wiki.wildberries.ru/img/2015/09/Winnie-Harlow-Beauty.jpg