I have a condition called vitiligo, which appeared in my mid-twenties, the prime of life, as I like to call it. Vitiligo causes white patches to appear on the skin due to a loss of pigment. I’ve never liked the word “disease,” so I refer to it as a condition. This small shift in language helped me approach it with less fear, but I want to be clear: accepting the condition itself is not the goal. What matters most is accepting myself as a whole person, even while living with challenges I may not like.

My journey with self-acceptance actually began long before vitiligo. Growing up as a first-generation Australian with immigrant parents, my Mediterranean complexion set me apart in a mostly white environment. I longed to blend in and often wished I looked different, dreaming of lighter hair or skin to fit in. It took years, and influences like diverse models, for me to start appreciating my heritage and natural appearance.

When vitiligo appeared, it added another layer of challenge. My skin began to change quickly, and I found myself retreating, covering up, and questioning my worth. Those years were difficult, filled with treatments, self-doubt, and frustration, but they also taught me resilience, perspective, and the importance of self-acceptance. I learned that I could value and embrace myself as a person, even while navigating a condition I didn’t have to “like.”