The past decade has been a testing period for South Indian actress Mamta Mohandas, as she battled with cancer, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and now, vitiligo. However, her Instagram feed has been a ray of positivity that manifests her sunny disposition towards life. In signature Mamta fashion, when she opened up about her journey with vitiligo, it was with a poetic optimism that embraced the condition.
Sharing a sun-kissed selfie with her two million followers, she wrote, “Dear sun, I embrace you now like I have never before. So spotted, I’m losing color… I rise even before you every morning, to see you glimmer your first ray through the haze. Give me all you’ve got for I will be indebted, here on out and forever by your grace.”
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What is vitiligo?
For the unversed, vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes the appearance of white patches on the skin, triggered by the lack of melanin. On the global spectrum, model Winnie Harlow has made it her mission to represent women living with skin conditions. Having been diagnosed with the condition at the age of four, she has since viewed her skin as one of her greatest gifts—even launching a suncare brand that offers an even finish on all skin tones.
Her determination to be viewed as more than just her skin is echoed by Mohandas, who shared a video on her way to the shoot of a new movie. “With new colours added to my every day, I shift my focus on the new year with vast new opportunities that await me,” she shared while adding that her colours might be brand new but she was still the same person.
For countless others living with skin conditions, her infallible voice holds up a mirror to crippling beauty standards while serving as a crucial reminder that we are more than our skin tone.
Also read:
Vogue Empower Newsletter: Winnie Harlow on being called a ‘vitiligo sufferer’
Can you have Eczema and Psoriasis at the same time?
How to treat skin inflammation—including cooling and calming products
