Winnie Harlow Gets Emotional Over Fan Support on World Vitiligo Day

Winnie Harlow got an emotional surprise from fans on June 25, World Vitiligo Day. During an appearance on “Today,” Harlow was shown videos of fans expressing their gratitude to her as they navigated their own vitiligo journeys. 

Harlow got teary-eyed after watching the clips. “I always wish I had a big sister. I’ve always been the big sister … And to see something like that, I’ve become that big sister that I’ve always wanted,” the model shared with Jenna Bush Hager, Maria Shriver, and Bobbie Thomas. 

The model’s visit to “Today” was partially to promote her skincare line, Cay Skin, but also to discuss the impact she has made as an advocate. Seeing the effect she has had on others with vitiligo, an autoimmune condition that causes white patches on the skin, was important to Harlow. “It makes everything that I do worth it,” she shared.

Harlow’s Family Made Her Strong

Harlow, 30, developed vitiligo when she was just 4 years old, and growing up with the condition was difficult. “I vividly recall being in third grade and trying to befriend two girls who would run away from me because their mothers didn’t want them to ‘catch’ what I had, as if I were contagious,” she revealed in an essay for Cosmopolitan.

But Harlow had a solid support system at home, especially in her mother and grandmother. “I was raised by very strong, incredible women,” she told Bobbie Thomas in a segment on “Today.” “… when I look at myself I see my mom … I see my grandmother, and they inspire me.” The model continued, “And so I always wanted to see greatness for myself even when it wasn’t in front of me.” 

Harlow’s Rise to Fame

And Harlow did go on to achieve greatness. In 2014, Harlow (then known as Chantelle Young) was a contestant on cycle 21 of “America’s Next Top Model.” While she has said the show didn’t do much for her career, she was later discovered by a photographer and in 2018 became the first model with vitiligo to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. 

Her career continued beyond modeling, as she was a judge on the fashion competition show “Making the Cut” in 2020 and in 2022 she launched her own skincare brand Cay Skin, whose name was inspired by her Caribbean roots. 

According to Harlow, failure was never an option. “I’m from the hood, and my goal was to never go back,” she shared with People. “I wanted to take care of my mom and my sister and make my dad proud.” It seems she has more than achieved her goal. In June of 2025 the model solidified her celebrity when she was honored with a wax figure in her likeness at the famed Madame Tussauds.

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