What Is Vitiligo? People Share Their Inspirational Quotes And Images On World Vitiligo Day

Vitiligo is a permanent skin condition that causes white patches to form due to the lack of a chemical called melanin. It's not exactly clear what causes this lack of melanin, but there's one thing we do know - vitiligo is beautiful.

Thousands of people have taken to social media today, the official World Vitiligo Day, to showcase their skin and what makes them unique.

Canadian supermodel Winnie Harlow features prominently in the posts, having made headlines with her incredible story of beating the bullies to become a world-famous catwalk star.



"Growing up for me was extremely tough in a social sense, I was teased and ridiculed because of my skin," she wrote in a blog post on fabfem.co.uk.

Harlow proved that having vitiligo is no barrier to success in the fashion business, claiming that when she learned to love herself, "opportunities started to fall into my lap and I thank God for all of them."

Here's what some inspirational Instagram users had to say with the hashtag #WorldVitiligoDay:

regram @olorisupergal There is a lot of stigmatization that  surrounds #Vitiligo. The skin condition is caused by de-pigmentation of some parts of the skin and usually occurs when skin pigment cells die or are unable to function. This skin condition is rare with worldwide incidences averaging 1% with most people who are affected being diagnosed before the age of 40.  Temilola Omobajesu, a supermodel affected with vitiligo, states that the confidence within you is the key to overcome the 'stigma'. "It took me some years to really accept Vitiligo. Vitiligo affected my modelling dreams and aspirations. Most Directors and Agents would tell me they couldn’t work with me. Some would even say it to my face that they need girls with beautiful skin not my patches." Temilola has started Viti-Dence Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the morale boosting of people with vitiligo and workshops on how to live with vitiligo with confidence, hence the name Viti-Dence (#vitiligo / #confidence.) June 25th is World Vitiligo Day and Temilola celebrates it with an extensive photoshoot showcasing the confidence that says #InOurSkinWeWin! Today, Temilola is an accomplished supermodel, video vixen for several top music videos, and a make-up artiste. For information and support on Vitiligo, check the official page of VITI-DENCE on twitter and Instagram: @vitidence Email: vitidence@gmail.com You can also follow her: @temynikan Photography by @libarty_works Makeup by @looks_by_daphne @diphyna Costumes/Styling by @fabriquebyfabz : Spongebob tee from @michaelfreesoul #WorldVitiligoDay #VitiligoNation #VitiligoCommunity #Vitidence #vitiligoworld #VitiligoBeauty #VitiligoDay #SpreadTheMessage #Showyoursupport

A photo posted by Anita Ifeoma Isedeh (@omaliicha) on Jun 25, 2015 at 7:49am PDT

✌ #worldvitiligoday #worldvitiligoday2015 #june25 #loveyourskin #bedifferent #loveyourself #vitiligo #myvitiligo #teamvitiligo #vitiligine #takeiteasy #keepcalmandrockyourvitiligo #imperfectionisbeauty @vitiligo_25juneitaly @vitiligobeauties

A photo posted by B a r b a r a (@barbara_t88) on Jun 25, 2015 at 7:30am PDT

Isn't she pretty ?? #WorldVitiligoDay #OsgVitiligoDay #Olorisupergal #OSG #VitiligoDay #VitiligoBeauty #vitiligonation #June25 #Vitiligo #Vitidence

A photo posted by olorisupergal (@olorisupergal) on Jun 25, 2015 at 7:23am PDT

DIFFERENT! !! The color of my skin is two colors, not one. People stare at my skin like it is strange or it stung. I felt out of place like a weed in a garden. Its tough to live like this, but I still have pardon. I have friends and family that love and care. Whenever am sad about it, they are always there. There's no need to cry over the differences I have. All I know is am never alone and God is my path. He shows me way around the sadness He helps me become stronger and fearless I stand proud In my place, whether people like it or not I maybe different but that doesn't make me stop People, like me, I know how you feel And am here to help you and show you God's will God doesn't do things without a reason That's why I like being an inspiring person You don't need to feel embarrassed about your skin Embrace your diversity Because magnitude comes from within The people may stare , they may point, completely stunned But this isn't a mistake Your journey's just began #VITILIGO #CONFIDENCE #VITIDENCE #INOURSKINWEWIN #SKINTHATISART #SUPPORTVITILIGO #WORLDVITILIGODAY #JUNE25TH #VITILIGOTEAM #TEAMVITILIGO #VITILIGONATION #VITILIGODAY

A photo posted by Vitiligo Awareness (@vitidence) on Jun 25, 2015 at 6:33am PDT

Today, the 25th June, is World Vitiligo Day! And this beautiful lady, @temynikan is living with Vitiligo and very confident about it. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which the melanocytes ( cells producing melanin responsible for the brown pigment in your skin) are destroyed, resulting in hypo pigmentation of certain areas of the skin. Temi's legs explain it all. #Vitiligo #DoNotDiscriminate #NothingWrongWithThem #worldvitiligoDay

A photo posted by Kemi Awoyemi (@thedrkemi) on Jun 25, 2015 at 7:47am PDT

I am a canvas painted by mother nature. I don't do art, I am art and I don't hide because art should never be hiden. #WorldVitiligoDay

A photo posted by Alejandra Leal (@alejandra.leals) on Jun 25, 2015 at 7:22am PDT

July 25th.. #WorldVitiligoDay vitiligo is a skin condition that causes you to lose pigment... That's it , we are not burnt.. Or contagious... We are part of the 1% of the worlds population that stand out in a crowd so today let's embrace and celebrate our #uniqueness #vitiligo #whitehairdontcare #imakepeoplestare .... Spread awareness

A photo posted by Just Julz (@just_julz_) on Jun 25, 2015 at 6:39am PDT

a little self conscious about this but happy #worldvitiligoday :) 14 years later and I kinda like it. #vitiligo

A photo posted by Lily Frye (@lilfrye) on Jun 25, 2015 at 8:29am PDT

#WorldVitiligoDay Embrace Your Skin ❤️❤️❤️ #perfectlyimperfect #vitiligo

A photo posted by B-Dub (@a_co_breezy) on Jun 25, 2015 at 8:20am PDT

She literally saved my life so glad to have inspiration and see a person like me on television after years of never thinking people like me would be fairly represented. #worldvitiligoday #winnieharlow

A photo posted by Brittany McPherson (@theblackmohican) on Jun 25, 2015 at 7:57am PDT

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