Vitiligo is the loss of color in the skin creating a variety of patterns on the skin from the loss of pigment. Vitiligo is a disease that can affect people of all races, genders, and ages. Vitiligo affects 1-2% of the population worldwide, so it is bound that some celebrities are also affected by this skin disorder. Many celebrities have dealt with vitiligo while remaining in the public eye, maintaining a positive outlook, and having a successful career.
Celebrities dealing with vitiligo include models, singers, actors, athletes, and TV hosts. World Vitiligo Day is June 25th. This day was selected as a memorial to the music artist Michael Jackson who suffered from vitiligo from the early 1980s until his death. Let’s get to know some of the most celebrities who have vitiligo:
Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow, the model with vitiligo, competed on the 21st season of America’s Next Top Model. Since 2014, she has risen to stardom and broken down conventional beauty standards. Winnie uses her platform to raise awareness for skin positivity. Having appeared in campaigns for big labels such as Nike, Victoria’s Secret, Marc Jacobs, and more, she has broken the boundaries surrounding vitiligo. This supermodel was diagnosed with vitiligo at the age of four. She has since become the face of most vitiligo treatment websites, informational catalogs, and YouTube video thumbnails. She is known worldwide and asked to walk many of the most glamorous runways as well as being featured in magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She was even the first person with vitiligo to participate in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, as she shared on Good Morning America. A traumatic photo shoot that left her with a severe sunburn inspired Harlow to launch her line of sun-care products for all skin tones, called Cay Skin.
Michael Jackson
Over the years, many wondered why Michael Jackson‘s skin color changed drastically as he got older. The King of Pop was one of the first famous people with vitiligo. According to his interview, the white patches started appearing on his skin at the age of 24, which he used to cover up with makeup. But since the vitiligo started to cover the majority of his body, he used treatment to de-pigment his entire body so that his skin wouldn’t look patchy. His autopsy reported that he had lupus and vitiligo, which only led to his skin turning white sooner than most. Due to little public knowledge regarding the vitiligo disease, many thought Michael Jackson didn’t want to be BLACK! As Michael’s long-term makeup artist confirmed, his vitiligo had affected the right-hand side of his face, down his neck, and also on the back of his hand. At first, he used darker makeup to cover the spots, but it was getting harder to match those white patches with the rest of his skin, so they used lighter and lighter makeup.
Richard Hammond
Best known as the co-host of BBC Two motoring program “Top Gear” from 2002 until 2015 with Jeremy Clarkson and James May; Richard Hammond is a British journalist, television presenter, mechanic, and writer. The vitiligo affects his face and legs.
Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm is known for his role as Don Draper in the period drama television series Mad Men. Hamm’s stress-induced vitiligo affects both his hands. During an interview, Jon confirmed that the stress of shooting the pilot episode of Mad Men landed his first vitiligo white patch. Indeed, stress has been widely studied as a possible trigger of autoimmune conditions like vitiligo. Soon, vitiligo affected his hands. He went on to win many Golden Globes and 10 Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Don Draper.
Amitabh Bachchan
The famous Bollywood star, Amitabh Bachchan, is one of the most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. Bachchan suffers from vitiligo. With a film career spanning over five decades, he has starred in more than 200 films.
Graham Norton
As a popular television personality, he is known for his The Graham Norton Show. Norton began his career as a comedian in radio and movies. Although he camouflages with makeup, it is said that he has white patches in his hair and other body parts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, vitiligo is a skin condition that affects people from all walks of life, including celebrities. Notable figures such as Michael Jackson, Winnie Harlow, and Lee Thomas have openly discussed their experiences with vitiligo, bringing visibility to this condition. Their stories highlight the challenges faced by those with vitiligo but also demonstrate that it is possible to lead successful and fulfilling lives despite these challenges. These celebrities serve as role models, inspiring those with vitiligo to embrace their unique appearance and promoting greater understanding and acceptance of this condition in society.
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