I am Happy in My Skin

Chantelle Brown-Young has grown up hearing comments like “cow” and “zebra” told to her face or from her back. Students at her school stared at her and bullied her. “People make fun of you and you have to learn how to deal with it.” she says.

Chantelle was like any other normal child until she turned four. At this age, patches started to appear on her arms, legs and face. Those brown patches then turned to pale pink. Chantelle soon learned that her pink patches were because of a skin condition called vitiligo. The skin loses its pigment and changes colour.

Chantelle has to answer a lot of questions about herself. People ask her questions like “Is it dangerous? Does it hurt? Will I get it too if I touch you?” It is very annoying, but Chantelle tries to answer all of the questions because people need to learn more about vitiligo. “It’s just a skin condition. It doesn’t hurt. It’s not contagious. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m well. You can breathe the same air as me. We’re cool,” she says.

Chantelle could easily treat those patches or cover them with make-up. But she doesn’t do that because she is happy with who she is.

According to the American Vitiligo Foundation, about 1-2 per cent of the global population has vitiligo. Chantelle continues to be a role model for millions of people who think that they are different or even ugly.

She is a very famous fashion model who earns millions of dollars every year. Her face is everywhere on billboards and she is different. But Chantelle is not just a model. She is a real-life hero for many children and adults who have the same condition.