Five celebrities who celebrate vitiligo

Around 74 million people across the globe have vitiligo. It’s a long-term condition where white patches develop on the skin, caused by a lack of melanin or skin pigment.

Vitiligo can affect any area of skin. It varies from person to person, with some only getting a few small patches and others getting bigger patches of depigmented skin that join up, but it can affect anyone of any race, gender and background – including celebrities and people in the spotlight.

With vitiligo being discussed, embraced and celebrated more and more on social media, there has also been a rise in celebrities opening up and talking about their own experiences with the skin condition. We’ve taken a look at five popular people who celebrate vitiligo.

1 – Dean Edwards

Celebrity chef Dean is a whizz in the kitchen. He also has vitiligo, which he’s been covering up for many years. In 2017, Dean appeared on daytime TV programme Lorraine, and revealed his patches to thousands of viewers. Since then, he’s spoken more and more about the condition on his social media platforms, educating his fans and followers about it.  Dean has been a long-time supporter of VITILIGLOW™ and regularly tweets his support for what we do.  In fact, Dean has used VITILIGLOW™ to cover his patches when he’s appeared on TV and nobody even knew he had vitiligo!

​(Photography credit: Brock Elbank / https://www.instagram.com/p/BqIS59vls1h/)

More recently, Dean was featured in Brock Elbank’s photography project. London-based Elbank is a talented photographer who has focused more recently on skin conditions, scars and the uniqueness of the human body.

2 – Winnie Harlow

Widely known for strutting her stuff down the catwalk, Canadian fashion model Winnie is a style icon who also happens to have vitiligo.

The America’s Next Top Model contestant has more recently become recognised as a public spokesperson for vitiligo, and she’s empowered thousands of people to embrace their depigmented patches and be proud.

3 – Lee Thomas

The Vitiligo Society Patron and Fox 2 News Reporter, Lee Thomas has been generating much-needed conversation about vitiligo, helping to raise awareness of the condition. Like many of us who choose to use a camouflage makeup, like VITILIGLOW™, to cover our depigmented patches, Lee turned to heavy makeup application for years.

When we met Lee at the Vitiligo Society’s Open Day in 2018, he explained that he covers up his patches when he’s on TV because he wants viewers to listen to what he’s saying rather than being distracted by his skin. He’s not embarrassed about vitiligo but he doesn’t want vitiligo to take the focus away from his news stories.​

4 – Demi Sims

Best known for starring in The Only Way Is Essex and being the younger sister of Chloe Sims, Demi took to Instagram in May to talk for the first time about her journey with vitiligo. After the photo was posted, Demi’s Instagram feed was full of discussion about the condition and she has become an online role model for many young adults with vitiligo.

(Photography credit: Demi Sims / https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIVRXon54v/)

5 – Kaiden Williams

Since appearing in Primark adverts in December 2018, 13-year-old Kaiden has inspired thousands of children and young people with vitiligo to feel confident in their own skin.

Kaiden proudly promoted Primark’s kids’ sportswear range in many Primark stores across the country, and has sparked all-important conversations between parents and children about what vitiligo is and how it makes people unique. 

(Photograph source: https://vitiligosociety.org/vitlife/kaiden-williams-child-star-of-primark/)

Some people choose to go out with their patches on show. Others of us feel more confident using all-in-one product VITILIGLOW™ to cover up our depigmented patches to blend them in with our natural skin tone, and that’s the very reason I launched VITILIGLOW™. It’s so important that we feel comfortable and confident in our own skin, and that’s what VITILIGLOW™ can help you with.

If you want to learn more about vitiligo or feel like you need some support, The Vitiligo Society can provide so much advice and guidance. Just like the team at VITILIGLOW™, The Vitiligo Society believe that it’s important to educate others about vitiligo and create support groups for people with the condition. 

Best wishes,
Polly Gotschi x