Winnie Harlow, the supermodel with vitiligo, has taken to Instagram to address people mimicking her striking looks.
White woman have been posting photos on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr, wearing makeup to recreate her vitiligo - but other social media users are not impressed, calling it "ridiculous" and akin to “black face”.
Having been bullied as a child for her condition, 21-year-old Harlow's response was not one anyone expected.
The Canadian-born model took to Instagram to address the issue with the above post, writing:
"My response to this is probably not what a lot of people want but here it goes: every time someone wants fuller lips, or a bigger bum, or curly hair, or braids does Not mean our culture is being stolen. Have you ever stop to realize these things used to be ridiculed and now they’re loved and lusted over. No one wants to “steal” our look. We’ve just stood so confidently in our own nappy hair and du-rags and big asses (or in this case, my skin) that now those who don’t have it love and lust after it. Just because a black girl wears blue contacts and long weave doesn’t mean she wants to be white and just because a white girl wears braids and gets lip injection doesn’t mean she wants to be black. The amount of mixed races in this world is living proof that we don’t want to be each other we’ve just gained a national love for each other. Why can’t we embrace that feeling of love? Why do we have to make it a hate crime? In a time when so much negative is happening, please don’t accuse those who are showing love and appreciation, of being hateful. It is very clear to me when someone is showing love and I appreciate these people recreating, loving and broadcasting something to the world that once upon a time I cried myself to sleep over #1LOVE "
Harlow, who found fame after starring on a contestant on America's Next Top Model, also shared her latest magazine cover for Ebony, along with song behind-the-scenes snaps of the shoot.
She has also walked the runway at this year's Madrid and New York fashion weeks, as well as acting as a brand ambassador for Desigual and Diesel.
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