Winnie Harlow was “never supposed to be a model”

• “Never supposed to be a model,” said Winnie Harlow.
• She became the  first person with Vitiligo to ever walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
• Her biggest “pinch me” moment occurs whenever she is in the presence of Naomi Campbell.

She later became the first person with Vitiligo to ever walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway. The 28-year-old celebrity has recalled working at La Senza and wishing she could do what the models were doing.

She told ET Canada: “It’s funny to me now that I’ve actually created a lane for myself in this industry that there was never a lane set.

“People will be like, she’s already a model because of her skin. I’m like, Well, it was actually the opposite. I was never supposed to be a model because of my skin.

“I’ve actually fought against that but I’m like oh… you must think my skin is beautiful now, which nobody thought before. So, you know, it’s a double-edged sword, but there’s beauty in it.”

A lack of melanin results in the long-term disorder known as vitiligo, which causes light white patches to appear on the skin.

Winnie aspires to keep removing obstacles in the way of other persons with the illness who want to pursue modelling careers.

She said: “I think the biggest challenge today would be still breaking down those doors that, God bless, I was able to push down those doors to walk through.

“But keeping those doors open for others to walk through… making sure that it isn’t just tokenism.

“Making sure that it isn’t just there’s one face or there’s one person who can. Everyone is able to.”

Her biggest “pinch me” moment occurs whenever she is in the presence of Naomi Campbell.

She added: “Any time I’m walking the same show as Naomi Campbell… it’s kind of a gag. Whoever knew I would be, you know, walking behind the footsteps of someone who knocked down so many doors for me to be able to do what I’m doing… It’s insane.”

Also Read

Justin and Hailey Bieber attend Doja Cat’s Masquerade party

Hailey and Justin attended Doja Cat's star-studded and masquerade-themed 27th birthday.  donned...