Perfect Imperfection: ‘Top Model’ Scouts Young Contestant With Vitiligo

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Chantelle Brown-Young is your typical 19-year-old teenage girl. She liked to write, dress up and take plenty of pictures, but one thing that differentiates her from most girls her age is her skin.

The Toronto native was diagnosed with Vitiligo, the same skin condition as Michael Jackson, around age four. Nevertheless, she landed a spot on the new season of America’s Next Top Model by impressing judges with her story via a video submission to the modeling competition.

She recalls being called a ‘zebra’ and ‘cow’ during her childhood because her condition causes patchy depigmentation that cover her face and body, but Chantelle’s natural beauty continued to shine through and now she’s fulfilling her dream.

She has already graced dozens of catwalks, starred in a music video, and been photographed by Nick Knight, a photographer that has lensed everyone from Kate Moss to Karlie Kloss. Chantelle has even had the opportunity of posing with the queen of runway, Tyra Banks.

Aside from being a model, Chantelle currently serves as an ambassador for the vitiligo community, referring to herself as a “vitiligo spokesmodel” on her Instagram account. She was recently invited to speak to students at her high school on the discrimination she felt growing up.

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