While scrolling through various feeds on Instagram, I came across some reels which featured ‘plus-size’ models, people with vitiligo flaunting their insecurities with a wide smile on their face. The comment section was filled with encouragement and encore with a tint of sarcasm and criticism too. While showing off your insecurities like your acne, stretch marks, vitiligo patches need a lot of confidence, the definition of vanity and beauty is far away from the conventional beauty standards that dominated our world. Today, the meaning of the word beauty is not connected to vanity exclusively. When times change so does the meaning of some words and their roots. While being beautiful was attached to having a fair skin tone and a slim body in older times, today the word ‘beautiful’ is mainly connected to one’s covert behavior and not necessarily their outer appearance.
As a person with vitiligo, I have seen a drastic change in the attitude of the people who surround me. From being concerned about my appearance when my skin started showing white patches to not caring about my appearance but my happiness, the people around me had a 360-degree change in the way they perceive beauty.
It’s not just about vitiligo, it’s about fat-shaming people too. While plus-size models are accepted in the modeling industry with open arms these days, this scenario was completely different 20-30 years back. Ashley Graham, a body-positive activist and a model were annoyed on being called a plus-size model. In an article by Harper Bazaar, she says – “I don’t post the ‘perfect’ Instagram photos.” She continued, “I keep it real and raw constantly because I want [people] to know that there are women with cellulite, with back fat, with stretch marks.”
We need to realize that the word perfect might be attractive but is fatal too on many occasions. As humans, we have certain flaws and we should accept them, certain insecurities make us anxious but in the end, we should introspect and make our peace with them. Rather than letting other people mock our insecurities we should embrace them and shut the bullies who are scared of their insecurities.
Winnie Harlow has changed the face of fashion and is the first model with vitiligo to walk the ramp. In an article by Vogue, she mentioned that “no one’s definition of beauty should matter but your own.” While white patches adorn her skin, she walks with confidence because she is not bothered as acceptance has made her strong and she remains an inspiration to a lot of people. In my personal opinion, vanity is pretty vague as it is attached to one’s appearance. I got vitiligo in my early teens which gave me a big complex but with time I learnt how to accept one of my biggest insecurities and today I am content in my skin. What might be defined as grotesque by some, can be accepted as beautiful by others. Everyone is unique in some way or the other; my unique factor is my white patches.
I feel like my acne, the bags under my eye, the stretch marks that adorn my stomach and my vitiligo patches are not beautiful. They are human and my so-called ‘beauty’ shouldn’t be considered when it comes to love or success. Every minute detail of my outer appearance doesn’t need to be categorized into the pretty or ugly column. We tend to judge people based on how they look rather than how they behave or carry themselves forward. While times have changed and people are lifting their feet away from the so-called conventional beauty standards, some people are still fixated on the dichotomy between the beautiful and not-so-beautiful race.
What we all need to understand is that face packs aren’t going to give you clear skin. Your skin will clear up automatically if you accept your insecurities with a stride and obsess about your inner beauty more. Bullies will come and go but you are going to be there with your body for a long time. Times are changing and no one can make you feel like you’re not good enough. Your insecurities are your strength so accept them and move forward with the confidence that is embedded in you.
Loving yourself can be hard, but when you start with introspection, it ultimately leads to self-acceptance. You will love your acne, your scars, your stretch marks. In the end, you’re human and no one is perfect in this world.