"Akiima, Winnie Harlow, Souffrant Ralph and Shaun Ross are just a few of the models who are proving that we can and should, embrace what makes us different."

Winnie Harlow is a Canadian fashion model and public spokesperson on the skin condition vitiligo – a condition that involves the depigmentation of skin. Harlow was bullied by her peers and was reportedly called a “cow, zebra and all manner of other disparaging slurs” throughout her childhood. Today, she’s the spokesperson for the Spanish fashion brand Desigual.

Shaun Ross is an African-American model, actor and dancer best known for being the first male albino pro model. He has been featured in photo-editorial campaigns in fashion publications including British GQ, Paper Magazine and Another Man. He has modeled for Alexander McQueen and Givenchy. He was bullied frequently by his peers, called names such as “Powder” and “Casper”. After training at the Alvin Ailey School for five years, Ross was discovered on YouTube and crossed over to the fashion industry in 2008.

Souffrant Ralph is a New York based model with a thick smattering of freckles running down his face and chest. He has a distinctive look that’s hard to forget — something he seems to know and embrace. He uses his distinct features to define his style.

Akiima (born Achol Ajak Yong) is a South Sudanese born model for Vogue, Valentino and Prada. She was propelled into the world of international fashion, just a short time after walking into a modelling agency in Adelaide.

With these continuous changes occurring in the fashion industry, it appears as if the old classic standards of beauty are slowly being replaced by the broader definitions of beauty.

Unexplored Network

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