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Being accepted as yourself is still “history in the making” said supermodel Chantelle Winnie, as she urged females to focus on their own opinions of themselves instead of other peoples, at the Women in the World Summit in London.
Winnie, is the first international supermodel with vitiligo, which is a condition where the immune system recognises skin pigment as a disease and destroys it like it would a common cold.
So far in her career Winnie has worked for the likes of Desigual and Diesal. She walked and closed for the clothing brand Ashish’s Spring/Summer of 2015 fashion show during London Fashion Week.
Speaking as part of a panel addressing body confidence she said: “People think because my career is going well that I don’t have any challenges anymore. There are still companies who don’t see me as a model, but as the girl with the skin condition, like when I was at school.”
Winnie found fame after being discovered through her selfies as modelling was something of a “hobby” to her in the beginning.
She launched her career after appearing on TV show America’s Next Top Model. At one point during filming of the show a photographer called her his “panda bear” and she had to ask him to stop referring to her as an animal.
“Everyone asks me what the turning point was but it was just me making the effort to focus on my opinion on myself,” said Winnie.
“I was like, wait I don’t actually think I’m ugly – I think I’m beautiful. So where did I get this idea I wasn’t? From someone else. Now I’ve learnt to just listen to yourself.”
The Women in the World Summit saw politicians, activists, entrepreneurs, peacemakers and more come to together to share inspirational stories during an event at Cadogan Hall. Speakers included the likes of Nicole Kidman, Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon.
