When the news came out that Mattel were taking their first steps to produce a Barbie doll with vitiligo, I felt incredibly overwhelmed.
It’s an issue I’ve been striving to raise awareness of recently in terms of equality and inclusivity after being diagnosed with the condition, which causes pale skin patches to appear due to a loss of pigment, when I was just 21.
It’s estimated that up to two per cent of the population has vitiligo, with half of the cases considered an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system appears to reject some of its own cells.
This new extension to the Barbie Fashionista range – which is being produced alongside another doll with no hair in a bid to ‘represent global diversity and inclusivity’ – is a great move in creating awareness, especially as when I was diagnosed there was very little seen of my condition. As social media didn’t exist, it meant that people – including myself – were incredibly ignorant of vitiligo.
I’d been in my final year at university when I discovered the small white spot on the left of my arm. Initially, I thought it might be sun damage after spending a year abroad studying in Spain. However, as my tan started to fade, the patch grew bigger.
I was hit with stress and anxiety, not knowing what was happening and began to feel self-conscious about my appearance.
Eventually I went to my GP, who explained I had vitiligo. There was nothing they could do to fix it. I had to learn to live with it.
As I didn’t know anyone else this had happened to, I instantly felt isolated. Mentally, I wasn’t prepared to discuss my condition with anyone, even when the pale patches on my skin got bigger and more visible, spreading to my other arm, legs and across my body and face.
If anyone stared or asked questions – a couple of people have even asked me if I’d been burned – I didn’t have the courage or strength to explain what vitiligo was.
Not only was I in the prime time of my life where appearance was hugely important to me but I also felt quite isolated dealing with the fears of vitiligo alone. This was coupled with the fact I never even saw anyone else who had the condition. There was also a huge lack of representation for global diversity and nor did I ever see anyone in the media with a skin condition.
It’s only in recent years that I’ve seen a shift in behaviour and understanding towards vitiligo and visual skin disorders – no doubt in conjunction with the advent of social media.
Finally, we’re getting the opportunity to see what ‘real’ people across the globe look like and society and the media have been forced to rethink its definition of ‘beautiful’.
Beauty and clothing brands are slowly changing their mindsets, too. Implementing new measures in how they promote and raise equality through their marketing campaigns, using models that represent a range of visual disorders and disabilities. Just last year Primark broke boundaries by using a child with vitiligo in an advertising campaign and I absolutely love the fact that brands are now daring to go outside of the box and steer away from the normal standardised vision of beauty.
It was only in 2016 that I took my first steps to come out of my comfort zone and actively promote body positivity. Gaining the confidence to do this, however, did not happen overnight. It was only after I’d had my two children that I felt ready. I wanted to be a positive and strong role model for them and I knew that could only happen by accepting and loving the way I looked.
I’ve since taken part in countless documentaries and campaigns, and try to share my story whenever I can as a vitiligo ambassador on Instagram, as well as an ambassador for the British Skin Foundation.
Working as a teacher also allows me to see what our young people go through on a day-to-day basis and the challenges they still face with their appearances. In my early years of teaching, there was a natural curiosity from my students about what had happened to my skin and eventually it felt like the ideal opportunity as an educator to empower and teach them about what it means to live with vitiligo.
By adding to their diverse range of dolls, which already includes a Barbie with a wheelchair and a curvy black doll with afro hair, Mattel are challenging the mindsets of our younger generations and allowing not only children but also adults to become more understanding and empathetic of visual differences and disabilities. It’s a huge game changer.
When I was growing up, I remember Barbie as a fashion model with perfect hair, perfect skin and a perfect body. There was no doll that reflected myself, even without vitiligo. Looking back, it created a level of anxiety, even at primary school, which is why, with child anxiety currently on the increase and body image playing a huge part in it, it’s vital we promote inclusivity at every stage of life.
With this latest move, Mattel is teaching children from a young age to understand through play that beauty is more than skin colour. And that everyone – including Barbie – is different and unique.
For more information on vitiligo click here
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/01/barbie-doll-vitiligo-huge-game-changer-people-like-12147431/
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