“She couldn’t wear her spots with more pride. Such an inspiring woman”
35 Beautiful Women With Vitiligo Shot By A Photographer Who Has The Same Condition
Elisabeth Van Aalderen had a lot going for her. After getting her diploma from the Utrecht School of Arts, she applied to the photography department of the Fotovakschool in Amsterdam. Since then, she has worked in the fashion industry as a stylist and art director but eventually quit her job to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional photographer. However, about 8 years ago, when she was 25, something came up that tried to slow Elisabeth down. Vitiligo. A skin condition in which a lack of melanin leads to developing white patches on the skin.
“I started to get tiny white spots on my left hand,” Elisabeth told Bored Panda. “After a few weeks, the small spots turned into one bigger spot. That’s when it all started. Today, 60% of my skin is covered in vitiligo.”
Most people who live with this skin condition have these patches on multiple areas of their bodies.
More info: elisabethva.com | Instagram
#1
When I was diagnosed, I started skin therapy: creams, lightening-therapy, a gluten-free diet, a vegetarian diet, no sun, a lot of sun, yoga. You name it, I tried it all,” Elisabeth said. “Nothing worked. Eventually, I stopped these treatments because I didn’t want my life to be like that. I couldn’t change the fact that I have vitiligo, so I started to embrace it.”
The photographer believes that she has vitiligo for a reason. “It’s my biggest and most difficult journey of self-acceptance.”
#2
“I feel so incredibly honored to photograph Sharista and just cant get over how beautiful she is, inside and out. Such a kind soul and a fearless power woman. She inspires so many out there with”
Elisabeth called her project Shades of Pale and set out to spread awareness about this condition. “About 60 million people around the globe have vitiligo, yet there are a lot of people who don’t know what it is,” she explained. “I also want to tell the story of strong, beautiful women that celebrate their looks which, in this case, distinguishes them from others. I want to portray women who embrace their skin. I don’t want people to look at vitiligo as something ‘out of the box’. When it comes to beauty, I believe there is no box. All types of beauty need to be inclusive. Beauty can be whatever you want it to be.”
#3
So far, there’s no known way to prevent or cure the condition. Doctors usually offer to improve the appearance of affected skin with cosmetics and corticosteroid creams. Other common solutions include re-pigmenting the white skin using UV light therapy or lightening the skin in unaffected areas or a skin graft.
#4
“Today I photographed Emely for the vitiligo project. She is such a stunning and confident Cape Verdean woman!”
#7
“I had the privilege to photograph my 3rd subject of the vitiligo project Marie Lenander. I feel so honored she traveled to Amsterdam to take part of this. This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and its esthetic.
For me it was also very special to get up close and personal with someone who had the same struggles as me, and as many young woman all over the world who are trying to fit in. Why should you even want to fit in, if you were born to be unique?”
#8
#9
“She couldn’t wear her spots with more pride. Such an inspiring woman”
#10
“Beautiful Padminie Gajadhar such a gracious and powerful woman. I am so grateful she let me take her picture”
this is incredible! I would die to be able to take pictures like this!