'A group of girls jumped me at school': Model Winnie Harlow recalls years of bullying and abuse in powerful new essay about her skin condition

  • The 20-year-old America's Next Top Model contestant has vitiligo, a disease that leads to a loss of skin color in patches across the face and body

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 09:17 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 14:42 EST, 15 July 2015

Model Winnie Harlow has opened up about her childhood in a candid essay for Cosmopolitan magazine, recounting years of bullying and abuse because of her skin condition.

The 20-year-old, who has vitiligo, a pigment condition that causes white patches to form on skin, says she 'discovered' that she was 'different' in third grade, after moving to a new school where girls were told to 'stay away' because they 'might catch' her skin condition.

'I really wanted to make new friends. But kids called me a cow and mooed at me,' the Toronto native recalls.

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Model Winnie Harlow has opened up about her childhood in a candid essay for Cosmopolitan magazine, recounting years of bullying and abuse because of her skin condition

Model Winnie Harlow has opened up about her childhood in a candid essay for Cosmopolitan magazine, recounting years of bullying and abuse because of her skin condition

Bullied: Winnie, who is pictured during her childhood, has revealed that she suffered physical abuse at the hands of her tormentors

Bullied: Winnie, who is pictured during her childhood, has revealed that she suffered physical abuse at the hands of her tormentors

Winnie, who starred in the 21st cycle of America's Next Top Model, wasn't born with vitiligo. Instead it developed 'fast' when she was four years old.

'I remember sitting by my window, wishing upon the stars that my skin condition would go away,' she says.

Later, in middle school, Winnie admits the bullying got worse. 'One boy would moo loudly at me every time we walked into an assembly, and everyone would laugh,' she says.

And high school didn't bring any reprieve. Instead, she faced physical abuse whenever she tried to defend herself from harassing remarks.

Bouncing baby: The supermodel's condition was not immediately apparent when she was a young tot

Bouncing baby: The supermodel's condition was not immediately apparent when she was a young tot

Family and friends: Winnie turned to the support of her family when she was bullied 

Family and friends: Winnie turned to the support of her family when she was bullied 

Moving on up: As Winnie grew, her skin condition became more evident 
Moving on up: As Winnie grew, her skin condition became more evident

Growing up: As Winnie got older, her skin condition became more evident, as seen in these childhood snaps

'My junior year, a group of girls jumped me, starting a fight. I got suspended, then started skipping class,' she recalls.

Finally, Winnie's mother moved her to an alternative school to shield her from the abuse. Her grades picked up, and she also got a job working at a call center.

It wasn't until a Canadian journalist saw Winnie's Facebook page and told her she was 'strikingly beautiful,' that she thought about modeling.

She first agreed to speak publicly about her skin condition in 2011 in a YouTube titled 'Vitiligo: A Skin Condition not a Life Changer,' and she began to realize she could use her unique look as an 'asset.' 

The 20-year-old, who has vitiligo, a pigment condition that causes white patches to form on skin, says she 'discovered' that she was 'different' in third grade, after moving to a new school

The 20-year-old, who has vitiligo, a pigment condition that causes white patches to form on skin, says she 'discovered' that she was 'different' in third grade, after moving to a new school

'I really wanted to make new friends. But kids called me a cow and mooed at me,' the Toronto native, who stars in the new Diesel campaign, recalls

'I really wanted to make new friends. But kids called me a cow and mooed at me,' the Toronto native, who stars in the new Diesel campaign, recalls

Winnie, who starred in the 21st cycle of America's Next Top Model, wasn't born with vitiligo. Instead it developed 'fast' when she was four years old

Winnie, who starred in the 21st cycle of America's Next Top Model, wasn't born with vitiligo. Instead it developed 'fast' when she was four years old

But when she finally mustered the courage to approach an agency, they dismissed her modeling dream, and told her to focus on becoming a make-up artist instead. 'It was an indirect hit aimed at my skin,' says Winnie. 

However, at 19, a casting director from America's Next Top Model contacted her through a fan page on Facebook, and before she could change her mind she packed her bags for Los Angeles.

Though she only placed sixth on the show, Winnie began to hear from world renowned photographers who wanted to work with her.

She quickly booked an ad campaign for Desigual with Brazilian model Adriana Lima, before starring in a fashion ad campaign for Diesel. 

Later, in middle school, Winnie admits the bullying got worse. 'One boy would moo loudly at me every time we walked into an assembly, and everyone would laugh,' she says

Later, in middle school, Winnie admits the bullying got worse. 'One boy would moo loudly at me every time we walked into an assembly, and everyone would laugh,' she says

Now, Winnie describes her self as a 'vitiligo spokesmodel' on Instagram, and returned to the middle school where she was bullied give a motivational speech to the students, touching on the discrimination she faced

Now, Winnie describes her self as a 'vitiligo spokesmodel' on Instagram, and returned to the middle school where she was bullied give a motivational speech to the students, touching on the discrimination she faced

And earlier this year, she walked the runway at fashion weeks in Madrid and New York, including Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief charity show.

Now, Winnie describes her self as a 'vitiligo spokesmodel' on Instagram, and returned to the middle school where she was bullied give a motivational speech to the students, touching on the discrimination she faced.

'I never would have imagined this future for myself when I was a kid at the school,' she writes. 'Looking back, I can see that the students who bullied me were just like me, trying to fit in.'  

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