She is commonly known as Winnie Harlow, high fashion model and public spokesperson on vitiligo, but just how much do you know about her?
A Canadian of Jamaican descent, Chantelle Brown-Young was born with two sisters to Lisa Brown and Windsor Young on July 27, 1994. During High school though, in tribute to her childhood idol Jeanne Harlow, she came up with the nickname Harlow for herself, one which has caught on so much many people think it’s her real name. As far as many would be against bodies being perceived as trends in the fashion industry, one cannot still refute the fact that she took the fashion world by storm in 2014. Being the first model of her kind to stand tall with her condition in a series as big as America’s Next Top Model, she built an unbreakable brand that drove the world wild.
Diagnosed with vitiligo at just 4 years old in Western Toronto, Chantelle Brown Young suffered the thorns of social injustice. From bullying both physically and emotionally, she notes that the ridicule from other people about her condition affected her psychologically, more than her actual condition. It was so bad she changed schools multiple times and even dropped out at some point and actually contemplated suicide. In a bid to help out, her mother, Lisa Brown would apply makeup to cover up the spots until Chantelle decided she did not like the entire process and embrace herself the way she actually is. This was a huge step considering it was someone with the emotional break of a damaged self esteem because of her appearance. Moving on into an industry where appearance matters the most, it was initially hard to break through as a model with vitiligo. She however kept posting pictures and videos of herself online. This paid off in the most amazing way possible as Tyra Banks discovered her on Instagram and decided to put her in for 2014 America’s Next Top Model. As much as she got a great deal of exposure and popularity from the show, she was eliminated two weeks to the final. She however made a return on the comeback series with other contestants. Even though this was not enough to get her to the top, she still did gain lots of exposure and ultimately became the real deal in the fashion industry. This was a major breakthrough that saw her on several campaigns and jobs after that.
Uploading a YouTube video in 2011, Harlow started her call as one to raise awareness on vitiligo with her video titled “Vitiligo: A Skin Condition, not a Life Changer.” For 2015, she hit big deals by modeling for Diesel, being featured in both Italian and Spanish editions of Glamour Magazine, Complex Magazine and Cosmopolitan. She was also awarded Beauty Idol at the Gala Spa Awards. 2015 September issue of Ebony Magazine did have Winnie Harlow alongside former ANTM contestant Fatima Said on their cover. Spanish clothing brand Desigual signed the top model as their official brand ambassador. The jobs kept going on and on and she happened to be the first model with Vitiligo to walk down the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. So many opportunities have unfolded over time and she has managed to beat all the boundaries by being the “beholder of her own beauty” as she likes to put it.
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