‘I wouldn’t wish bullying on anyone’ - Teen with vitiligo inspired after meeting hero Winnie Harlow

Fifteen-year-old Calaeda Maxwell has described the chance meeting of her role model, Winnie Harlow, as one of the best moments of her life.

Harlow, is a Jamaican-Canadian fashion model, who like Maxwell, has the skin condition, vitiligo. She was among a long list of international superstars who visited the island for Carnival in Jamaica last week. While participating in the road last Sunday, Harlow spotted Maxwell and the two embraced as if they were long lost relatives.

Maxwell, who was getting ready to leave the road march, recalled the moment when Harlow spotted her on the streets. She said that she saw the inviting eyes and warm smiles being directed towards her from the model.

"When I saw that it was her, I ran so fast. I just ran to her and gave her a long hug. I was just so happy," Maxwell said. "I was in shock, I could barely speak. I was just so happy, my heart was racing. I don't even think I looked at her in her face straight the way I was shaking."

The meeting between Maxwell and her hero was more than a coming together of two persons who faced childhood bullying because of their appearance.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks the melanin-producing cells in the skin and hair. This results in the affected person having depigmented patches. Persons with the condition are subjected to bullying and teasing.

Harlow, whose vitiligo first appeared when she was four years old, posted a video to her Instagram page in which she said that meeting Maxwell was one of the best moments of her trip.

Maxwell was born with vitiligo and has grown to embrace her condition. She said that in addition to receiving words of encouragement, she could not help but being awestruck.

"She was amazing, her skin was so soft and she just smelled so good. She was amazing," Maxwell said of Harlow.

The Jamaican teen said that there was a time when she was bothered by comments made by people about her appearance. However, as she grew older, she got used to the bad comments.

"I just shrugged it off my shoulders if I heard anything. I just got used to it and just had to say, 'Bwoy, I don't see myself the way they do. I don't see my skin as anything bad. So I'm just like, it only matters what I think," the teenager said.

Harlow, who proudly embraces the fact that she is affected by vitiligo, has said that she felt isolated as a child due to her condition. She has been using the avenues opened to her to raise awareness about vitiligo and to advocate for persons afflicted with the condition.

For Maxwell, Harlow's advocacy has helped to make her stronger.

"I'd want to say thank you (Harlow), like thank you a lot. Because if I never knew of her, I'd never know that there's someone else that went through what I went through. Because I used get bullied too, so to have someone else know what you're going through and knows what you went through, it feels good," she said.

Having been given the opportunity to be inspired by Harlow, she is hoping be that light for others afflicted by vitiligo.

"I'd tell them to just ignore whoever is telling them that they're not good enough or that they don't fit the ideal standard. I'm sure they're beautiful in their own way, whether they like it or not. I'm sure other people will think they're beautiful, and, of course, I will. I know what it feels like to be bullied and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially if they're younger," Maxwell said.