Winnie Harlow’s Wax Figure Is a History-Making First — and a Win for Representation

Winnie Harlow just made history — and looked golden doing it.

On June 25, the Canadian model unveiled her first-ever wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York. The big reveal was timed perfectly with World Vitiligo Day, which honors those living with the autoimmune condition that causes skin to lose pigment. Harlow, who has spoken openly about living with vitiligo since childhood, is now the the first person with vitiligo to receive a Madame Tussauds wax figure, and she made sure the moment was about more than just her.

“Community, understanding, a sense of belonging, communication, education, family… But if I had to wrap it up in one word: Loved,” she captioned a video of the event shared on Instagram, featuring a group of supporters with vitiligo who joined her for the celebration.

In another Instagram post, Harlow shared the significance of the honor: “The first wax figure with vitiligo!! … This is a stamp in time for representation,” she wrote. “We have a community that we always longed for and it’s worth its weight in gold! I watch you guys walk in your strength and confidence and wish little Winnie could see you all.”

The wax figure is modeled after one of Harlow’s signature red carpet looks — a gold netted Zuhair Murad minidress — and took over a year to complete, reportedly. She worked closely with Madame Tussauds on the details, including tweaking the lip color to match her go-to Cay Skin Coral shade.

Fans and the Vitiligo Community Celebrate the Moment

The outpouring of support was immediate. Under her Instagram post, fans flooded the comments with praise. “Yo this is insane!!! It’s so accurate!! Congratulations Winnie!! Iconic 😍👏🏾🎉🥂,” one wrote. Another added, “It took me a moment to figure out which one is the real Winnie! Perfect!!” One more called her “AN ICON LIVING! A LEGEND!”

But for Harlow, the celebration went beyond the aesthetics. During a Today show appearance, she was surprised with video messages from women living with vitiligo, thanking her for being a visible and empowering figure in their lives.

“To have someone who is so, so beautiful, who is so bold, so inspiring, it means the world to me,” one woman said. Another shared, “Seeing someone as beautiful and genuine as you helped me learn to love myself.”

Overcome with emotion, Harlow said, “I always wish I had a big sister… And to see something like that, I’ve become that big sister that I’ve always wanted.”

Confidence, Culture and Self-Love

Harlow credits her grandmother — a “fiery Jamaican Leo” — for being one of her earliest examples of confidence. “From watching her paint her red nail polish, to doing her makeup, to choosing her hair looks… I’ve always been able to see that confidence,” she told Us Weekly after the wax figure reveal.

She’s also been intentional about showing the next generation that being different is something to embrace. “Being different is a superpower,” she said on Today. “As long as you own who you are and love who you are, the world is your oyster.”

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