Winnie Harlow

Explore the inspiring journey of Winnie Harlow — from a bullied child with vitiligo to a trailblazing model, advocate, and entrepreneur. Discover her biography, career milestones, philosophy, and powerful quotes.

Introduction

Winnie Harlow is a Canadian fashion model, public spokesperson, and advocate whose presence has reshaped beauty standards. Born Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young, she rose to fame not in spite of, but because of her visible skin condition, vitiligo. Her uniqueness challenged industry norms and inspired millions. Over the years, she has become a symbol of self-acceptance, diversity, and resilience. Her influence extends beyond runway lights: she builds a voice for underrepresented identities, launches her own skincare brand, and uses her platform to champion confidence and inclusion.

Early Life and Family

Winnie Harlow was born on July 27, 1994 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young.

At around age 4, she was diagnosed with vitiligo, a condition characterized by patches of lost skin pigmentation. The onset of this condition and its visible manifestation had deep psychological and social impacts in her childhood.

Because of her appearance, Winnie faced relentless bullying, being called names like “zebra” or “cow.”

However, through those trials emerged a resolve: to reclaim her narrative, to find strength in difference, and to reframe beauty as expansive rather than narrow.

Youth, Education & Self-Discovery

Because of bullying and emotional strain, Winnie’s formal education was disrupted. She left high school and was homeschooled or educated in flexible environments. During her teenage years she explored identity, social media, and personal expression.

She adopted the name “Winnie” inspired by a cartoon character she admired, and chose “Harlow” after the classic Hollywood actress Jean Harlow, combining personal sentiment and symbolic meaning. Over time, she began to see her visible difference not as a limitation but as a distinctive asset — a lens through which to build visibility and advocacy.

Career and Achievements

Rise via America’s Next Top Model

Winnie Harlow first entered the public eye in 2014 when she auditioned for America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 21.

While her path on the show was not the standard “winner’s trophy” route, her visibility there set in motion her rise. She began modeling for brands and walking runways shortly thereafter.

Modeling, Runway & Campaigns

After ANTM, Winnie secured work with brands such as Desigual, becoming its brand representative. London Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2015. Diesel, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski, MAC, Nike, Puma, and Victoria’s Secret.

A major milestone came in 2018, when Winnie became the first model with vitiligo to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Lemonade (2016).

Advocacy, Public Voice & Entrepreneurial Work

Beyond fashion, Winnie embraced a role as a public advocate for vitiligo awareness and broader discussions of diversity, inclusion, and beauty standards.

In 2022 she launched her own skincare brand, Cay Skin, driven by her personal experiences with sun protection challenges for skin with varying pigmentation.

She also has served in media roles: she was a judge on Making the Cut, aired on Amazon Prime.

In 2025, Winnie’s personal life made headlines: she became engaged to NBA player Kyle Kuzma.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 2014: Competes on America’s Next Top Model.

• 2015: Walks high fashion runways (Ashish), models for prominent brands.

• 2016: Appears in Beyoncé’s Lemonade.

• 2018: Breakthrough moment — first model with vitiligo in Victoria’s Secret show.

• 2022: Launch of Cay Skin brand.

• 2025: Engagement announcement to Kyle Kuzma.

In the broader fashion industry, Winnie’s ascent marked an important shift toward representation of differences — not just assimilation to existing norms. She challenged the “ideal beauty” paradigm, helping catalyze ongoing debates about inclusion, visibility, and authenticity in modeling.

Legacy and Influence

Winnie Harlow’s influence spans multiple realms:

• Redefining beauty narratives: She helped normalize visible skin conditions and pushed back against monolithic ideals of flawless skin.

• Empowerment through representation: For those with vitiligo and other visible differences, her presence provides a powerful mirror and voice.

• Entrepreneurial agency: By launching Cay Skin, she translated personal challenge into business with intentional design for diverse needs.

• Platform for social change: She speaks openly about mental health, self-belief, bullying, and diversity.

• Cross-industry influence: From fashion runways to media roles, she has leveraged her profile across sectors — showing that a model today can be more than a face.

Her legacy is still in formation, but she already stands as a touchstone for future change-makers who refuse to be confined by conventional categories.

Personality, Strengths & Vision

Winnie Harlow radiates a blend of vulnerability and fierce confidence. She describes her journey as one of relearning self-love, focusing on her own opinion of herself rather than others’ views. superpower.

Her strengths include:

• Courage to be visible

• Communication and empathy

• Business acumen grounded in lived experience

• Resilience

Her vision encompasses a beauty ecosystem that recognizes difference, complexity, and authenticity.

Famous Quotes of Winnie Harlow

Below are some of her memorable lines that reflect her philosophy:

“I had to relearn how to love myself by forgetting the opinions of everyone else and focusing on my opinion of myself.”

“People have black skin, people have brown skin. I have both.”

“Vitiligo is just another difference, like freckles, big hair, tiny ears — everyone has differences.”

“I have my flaws, but I embrace them and I love them because they’re mine.”

“Self-acceptance is the key to unlocking your potential.”

These quotes offer glimpses into her mindset: not perfection, but acceptance; not hiding, but owning.

Lessons from Winnie Harlow

The life and journey of Winnie Harlow teach several powerful lessons:

1. Own your difference — What others see as a limitation can become your defining strength.

2. Self-worth is internal — Focus first on how you see yourself, not how others judge.

3. Visibility matters — Representation gives others permission to see themselves.

4. Use voice and platform — Build beyond just being seen; speak, create, lead.

5. Resilience is gradual — Confidence often comes through pain, reflection, and iteration.

Conclusion

Winnie Harlow is more than a supermodel — she is a cultural symbol, a bridge between appearance and meaning, and an activist in a changing media landscape. From a bullied child to an empowered entrepreneur and icon, her journey embodies the power of difference, self-acceptance, and courage. Her story reminds us that beauty is not conformity — it is identity, expression, and truth.