If you followed the selection process for this season of America’s Next Top Model you already know about Chantelle Young, a beautiful young model with a skin condition called vitiligo. The 19 year old Chantelle Young says in one video pitch for the show, “I am the underdog, and I want to prove that one can follow one’s dreams despite all the flaws and setbacks.” Vitiligo is a loss of pigment where areas of the skin will lighten or become completely white. It often results in low self-esteem and depression for sufferers who feel stigmatized by their appearance. Chantelle has overcome these two obstacles by embracing her condition as making her unique. Here are a few facts on this rare skin condition:
- Vitiligo is not contagious or life threatening
- Vitiligo occurs equally among people with different skin colors and different races although it sometimes appears more obvious for those with darker skin
- Vitiligo is often diagnosed before the age of 21 and is not curable
Image source: Matt Barnes