It’s normal for people to hide characteristics that don’t fit with society’s expectations; many spend years trying to hide their perceived shortcomings.
Applying makeup became a daily routine for Tiffany Taylor. She was saddened by her vitiligo diagnosis at the age of 14, and she even concealed it from close friends by using thick foundation to cover her white spots. She found it difficult to accept her own skin, even if she witnessed others with vitiligo living openly.
For girls who feel different, adolescence can be particularly difficult. Without putting any pressure on her to show off her inherent beauty, Tiffany’s family and friends encouraged her to use expensive makeup.
When she witnessed model Winnie Harlow embracing her vitiligo with pride, everything changed. Inspired, Tiffany went to a Halloween party sans makeup for the first time, dressed as Harlow. She was taken aback by the enormous positive response; she received compliments from people who didn’t realize they were witnessing the genuine Tiffany.
This event changed her. She started to accept the way she looked, posting unprocessed images to social media, where her inherent beauty was much praised.
