How a little girl nicknamed Zebra because of the white patches caused by her vitiligo battled her way to become a top model - and has now snared F1 star Lewis Hamilton 

  • Winnie Harlow, 22, has had vitiligo since she was four
  • Lack of melanin causes white patches to form on skin  
  • Model has been seen hanging out with heartthrob Lewis Hamilton 
  • Starred in Diesel campaign and Beyonce's music video
  • Also starred on America's Next Top Model and walked in Ashish show  

She's the lofty supermodel who has apparently caught Lewis Hamilton's eye - and with her striking looks and defiant attitude, it's easy to see why the racing driver has taken a liking to Winnie Harlow.

It was claimed this week that Lewis, 31, and Winnie, 22, have been dating in secret for three months after the pair were seen partying together in New York.

Despite a spokesperson saying the pair are just good friends, Lewis has certainly taken a liking to Winnie. So who is the lady who has caught the Formula 1 ace's eye? 

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Striking supermodel Winnie Harlow, who grew up with Michael Jackson's skin condition, has been spotted hanging out with Formula 1 ace, Lewis Hamilton - and she's tipped to be fashion's next big thing

Look super sexy in a scarlet dress like Winnie in DKNY

She's out and about at New York Fashion Week and when Winnie Harlow isn't striding down the runway, she's sitting FROW watching the fashionable action unfold.

Winnie has always stood out from the other models with her skin condition making her so striking, but her fashion sense and beautiful modelling is what has brought her her success.

She looked gorgeous here in a DKNY dress. We love the bold red hue and the lace up details to one side that leads to a split at the front. She looked sexy with a cool-girl edge.

The dress is from DKNY's autumn/winter 2016 line so is now up for grabs, click right to snap it up.

Want to be the scarlet woman in something less pricey? Check out the line up of red hot picks below from the likes of Boohoo, Asos and more.

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From America's Next Top Model to landing a starring role in a Diesel campaign, it seems that 2016 is the year of Winnie Harlow.  

Winnie, a former America's Next Top Model contestant, whose real name is Chantelle Brown-Young, was raised in Toronto by a single mother and hairdresser, Lisa Brown.

Winnie, who is 5ft 9in, was diagnosed with vitiligo around the age of four, making her among one per cent of the population who has the condition.

Michael Jackson famously had the same condition and explained his pale complexion was a result of the lack of melanin in his skin. 

She was cruelly nicknamed 'zebra' and 'cow' because of the white patches covering her face and body growing up.

'I get comments that I am a leper. I control how my skin changes, I bleach my skin, my skin's burned. None of those are true. If one day I'm all black I'm still a model. If one day I'm all white I'm still a model. I am not my skin. I am a model with a skin condition,' she once said. 

It was claimed this week that Lewis, 31, and Winnie, 22, have been dating in secret for three months after the pair were seen partying together in New York

It was claimed this week that Lewis, 31, and Winnie, 22, have been dating in secret for three months after the pair were seen partying together in New York

Despite arriving  separately, Lewis and Winnie were seen leaving the club together after partying with a group of friends
Lewis Hamilton partied into the early hours with rumoured girlfriend Winnie Harlow on Wednesday evening following claims the pair have been dating in secret for three months

Lewis Hamilton partied into the early hours with rumoured girlfriend Winnie Harlow on Wednesday evening following claims the pair have been dating in secret for three months

Winnie reveals that she was physically taunted about her skin and a group of girls 'jumped her' in a fight, which led to her being suspended because she started skipping class. She dropped out of school at the age of 17 and never looked back

Winnie reveals that she was physically taunted about her skin and a group of girls 'jumped her' in a fight, which led to her being suspended because she started skipping class. She dropped out of school at the age of 17 and never looked back

Michael Jackson famously had the same condition and explained his pale complexion was a result of the lack of melanin in his skin
Winnie, left, as a baby, was diagnosed with vitiligo around the age of four, right, making her among one per cent of the population who has the condition

Winnie, left, as a baby, was diagnosed with vitiligo around the age of four, right, making her among one per cent of the population who has the condition

Winnie Harlow, left, arriving at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 at Tate Modern
Winnie on the runway for Michael Cinco during the Couturissimo Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show at Paris Fashion Week

Winnie Harlow, left, arriving at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 at Tate Modern and, right, on the runway for Michael Cinco during the Couturissimo Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show at Paris Fashion Week

In another interview, with Cosmopolitan magazine, she added: 'Kids called me a cow and mooed at me. I remember sitting by my window wishing upon the stars that my skin condition would go away.'

She was physically taunted later in life and reveals that a group of girls 'jumped her' in a fight, which led to her being suspended because she started skipping class. She dropped out of school at the age of 17 and never looked back. 

Winnie, who was working at a call centre, was scouted on Facebook and was quickly snapped up to star in a string of campaigns and music videos. Her big break came when she starred on America's Next Top Model in 2014 and Tyra Banks said that Winnie's skin breaks down barriers of what is considered beautiful. 

Now Winnie, who describes her self as a 'vitiligo spokesmodel' on Instagram, is being celebrated for her distinctive look.

She has over one million followers on social media and she was recently invited back to her high school to do a motivational talk with students touching on the discrimination she faced.

Winnie first spoke publicly about her skin condition in 2011 by posting a video to YouTube titled 'Vitiligo: A Skin Condition not a Life Changer'. 

Winnie, left and right as a child, was scouted on Facebook and was quickly snapped up to star in a string of campaigns and music videos
She has over one million followers on social media and she was recently invited back to her high school to do a motivational talk

Winnie, left and right as a child, was scouted on Facebook and was quickly snapped up to star in a string of campaigns and music videos. 

Winnie has a bevvy of A-list pals including Puff Daddy and Jay Z, pictured on her left

Winnie has a bevvy of A-list pals including Puff Daddy and Jay Z, pictured on her left

Diesel proved a point with its SS15 campaign, which aimed to promote 'tolerance, equality and unconditional love' and stars the likes of Winnie Harlow, centre

Diesel proved a point with its SS15 campaign, which aimed to promote 'tolerance, equality and unconditional love' and stars the likes of Winnie Harlow, centre

Winnie, far right, was diagnosed with vitiligo around the age of four and said growing up she was cruelly nicknamed 'zebra' and 'cow' but she's launched a hugely successful career 

Winnie, far right, was diagnosed with vitiligo around the age of four and said growing up she was cruelly nicknamed 'zebra' and 'cow' but she's launched a hugely successful career 

Conceived by creative director Nicola Formichetti and styled by Anna Trevelyan, the Diesel campaign aims to be provocative and optimistic, say the brand

Conceived by creative director Nicola Formichetti and styled by Anna Trevelyan, the Diesel campaign aims to be provocative and optimistic, say the brand

Although then just 17, she eloquently told viewers: 'People have black skin, people have brown skin, I have both.

'When I got older, it got harder because when kids get older they get meaner, so I went through a lot of bullying and people calling me like zebra or cow so it was really hard growing up.'

She said at certain points she was plagued with suicidal thoughts but found the strength to pull through. Moving from California to Canada with her family also provided the opportunity for a fresh start.

After 'blossoming', Winnie said she found it strange when people started telling her how beautiful she was.

WHAT IS VITILIGO?

Vitiligo occurs when the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that determines the color of skin, die or stop functioning.

This causes slowly enlarging white patches of irregular shapes to appear on the skin over time.

Vitiligo affects all races, but may be more noticeable in people with darker skin.

The exact cause of the condition is unknown, although many experts believe that it is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys certain cells.

There is no cure and the goal of treatment, which can include ointments and skin grafts, is to stop or slow the progression of pigment loss.

'I'll turn pink and say "thank you so much,'" the teenager giggled.

She says that things have worked in her favour because she accepts her originality and has used it to her advantage.

'I loved myself. And with that, opportunities start to fall into my lap. And I thank God for all of them. Try loving yourself,' she concluded. 

As well as starring on America's Next Top Model, she walked in Ashish's catwalk show in London and starred in a SHOWStudio campaign.

If that wasn't enough, she's pals with Mariah Carey's ex Nick Cannon, parties with Drake and was snapped up to star in Beyonce's Lemonade music video. 

Speaking about working with Queen Bey, Winnie said: 'I wanted to thank her for acknowledging me as a strong black woman and continuing to empower us all.'

Winnie, a former America's Next Top Model contestant, whose real name is Chantelle Brown-Young, was raised in Toronto by a single mother and hairdresser, Lisa Brown

Winnie, a former America's Next Top Model contestant, whose real name is Chantelle Brown-Young, was raised in Toronto by a single mother and hairdresser, Lisa Brown

Winnie also does lots of charity work and travels around the world meeting young students

Winnie also does lots of charity work and travels around the world meeting young students


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