Sonya developed vitiligo at a very young age<\/strong><\/h3>\nAt the tender age of eight, Sonya first discovered that she had Vitiligo. Her family, initially assuming it to be sunburn, didn’t pay much heed to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was eight yours old, it started as a very tiny spot on my face and we didn\u2019t give it much attention. But, it didn\u2019t go away for some time and then my family finally took me to a dermatologist and my vitiligo was diagnosed.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n
Vitiligo affects around 1 to 2% of the world\u2019s population and many of them avoid talking about it. Hence, many people in Malaysia weren\u2019t aware of it. It brought quite painful consequences for Sonya as she faced judgement and bullying everywhere be it her school or on the streets.<\/p>\n
In school, I was bullied a lot and called names like \u2018Dalmatian\u2019 owing to my patchy skin. Some of them labeled me \u2018untouchable\u2019 fearing that vitiligo can be communicated by touch. There were a lot of distasteful comments because I was afraid and didn\u2019t speak up.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nToday, if I would get the opportunity to talk to that young Sonya, I would ask that little girl to speak up because the bullies derive power from the silence of their victims. It\u2019s alright to share your feelings with your parents or a friend or even teachers and let them know what you are going through rather than suffering in silence. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n
Those nasty remarks didn\u2019t confine to the classroom only. In fact, people\u2019s awkward stare when walking on the streets was another nightmare she faced everyday.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nStrangers, walking on the streets would come to her asking if she got burned. May be they didn\u2019t intend to hurt her but they would shamelessly stare at her and it was such a pain.<\/p>\n
No treatment worked for her except acceptance and self-love<\/strong><\/h3>\nThese everyday incidences made her highly conscious of her condition as she lost a big chunk confidence and self-love. Even stepping out of the house became a challenge.<\/p>\n
Her Indian parents tried to get her treated with best possible medicine, not just in Malaysia but even they tried Ayurveda medicines from India also.<\/p>\n
From traditional Ayurveda to modern medical science, she tried every existing treatment. She even became strictly vegetarian for two years.<\/p>\n
The UV light therapy didn\u2019t work for her either. In fact, the photo therapy caused burning and blisters on her skin.<\/p>\n
Even her family fell victim to a fraud doctor who injected steroids in her body in the name of potent herbs. That infusion of steroids temporarily stopped vitiligo spreading, even some of her white spots started to turn brown as a sign of re-pigmentation.<\/p>\n
But she constantly started falling ill and after a blood test, it was found that the doctor was fooling them by giving her steroids instead of herbs. When Sonya finally stopped taking those injections, her skin turned back to white again. Those steroids were just suppressing the autoimmune reaction unnaturally, so as she stopped taking them, the vitiligo white spots returned back.<\/p>\n
By the time she turned 17, Sonya got tired of all the non-rewarding efforts she was putting in, to become ‘acceptable’ for the society. She realized that this is not something she wants.<\/p>\n
So she decided to come to terms with vitiligo as a life-long condition and invest her time and energy in realizing the dream of entering the fashion industry instead of taking any more treatments or making compromises.<\/p>\n![\"sonya](\"https:\/\/dermacupid.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sonya-danita-instagram-photo-820x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
sonyadanita\/Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMoving to the US for studies helped her greatly <\/strong><\/h3>\nAt the young age of 17, she left for the United States to study fashion marketing at Woodbury University.<\/p>\n
The inclusive and mature environment in Unites States helped her greatly making a quick progress in the journey of self-acceptance and self-love.<\/p>\n
Unlike Malaysia, people in Unites States were less judgmental and more welcoming. It allowed her to be comfortable with her appearance and she gained a lot of confidence.<\/p>\n
Now, as Sonya has returned back to Malaysia, she still observes people staring at her sometimes. But, it doesn\u2019t bother her as much as it used to earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere in Malaysia, things are a little tougher as compared to the United States certainly because the lack of awareness. Also, the Malaysian society is still a conservative one and the people hesitate to embrace diversity.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nJust like everyone else with vitiligo, sometimes, I too feel like giving up and discouraged, but I really push myself out of the comfort zone to bounce back stronger.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRaising awareness about vitiligo and body positivity activism<\/strong><\/h3>\nDespite a hard childhood, she has always wanted to become a model. Now that she is blessed with vitiligo and the patchy skin makes her look different from others and brings immediate attention, she is encouraged by friends to try luck in modeling. May be she would be the next Winnie Harlow and in the process, she would pave the way for the coming generations to believe in themselves and chase their dreams no matter what.<\/p>\n
“I have studied fashion and marketing and now doing a stable job in the apparel marketing domain, so definitely it will be a big decision for me to take modeling as full time. Moreover, I am still getting comfortable with my appearance. You can say it\u2019s a work in progress. So, I am taking small steps, one at a time, to boost my confidence as well as motivate the other women with vitiligo to accept and embrace themselves.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBy participating in fashion weeks and doing photo shots, Sonya is slowly but surely breaking the moulds of \u2018ideal beauty\u2019 and helping the people with vitiligo and other skin conditions to be comfortable in their own skin and accept the way they are.<\/p>\n
\n\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nView this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was eight yours old, it started as a very tiny spot on my face and we didn\u2019t give it much attention. But, it didn\u2019t go away for some time and then my family finally took me to a dermatologist and my vitiligo was diagnosed.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Vitiligo affects around 1 to 2% of the world\u2019s population and many of them avoid talking about it. Hence, many people in Malaysia weren\u2019t aware of it. It brought quite painful consequences for Sonya as she faced judgement and bullying everywhere be it her school or on the streets.<\/p>\n In school, I was bullied a lot and called names like \u2018Dalmatian\u2019 owing to my patchy skin. Some of them labeled me \u2018untouchable\u2019 fearing that vitiligo can be communicated by touch. There were a lot of distasteful comments because I was afraid and didn\u2019t speak up.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Today, if I would get the opportunity to talk to that young Sonya, I would ask that little girl to speak up because the bullies derive power from the silence of their victims. It\u2019s alright to share your feelings with your parents or a friend or even teachers and let them know what you are going through rather than suffering in silence. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Those nasty remarks didn\u2019t confine to the classroom only. In fact, people\u2019s awkward stare when walking on the streets was another nightmare she faced everyday.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Strangers, walking on the streets would come to her asking if she got burned. May be they didn\u2019t intend to hurt her but they would shamelessly stare at her and it was such a pain.<\/p>\n These everyday incidences made her highly conscious of her condition as she lost a big chunk confidence and self-love. Even stepping out of the house became a challenge.<\/p>\n Her Indian parents tried to get her treated with best possible medicine, not just in Malaysia but even they tried Ayurveda medicines from India also.<\/p>\n From traditional Ayurveda to modern medical science, she tried every existing treatment. She even became strictly vegetarian for two years.<\/p>\n The UV light therapy didn\u2019t work for her either. In fact, the photo therapy caused burning and blisters on her skin.<\/p>\n Even her family fell victim to a fraud doctor who injected steroids in her body in the name of potent herbs. That infusion of steroids temporarily stopped vitiligo spreading, even some of her white spots started to turn brown as a sign of re-pigmentation.<\/p>\n But she constantly started falling ill and after a blood test, it was found that the doctor was fooling them by giving her steroids instead of herbs. When Sonya finally stopped taking those injections, her skin turned back to white again. Those steroids were just suppressing the autoimmune reaction unnaturally, so as she stopped taking them, the vitiligo white spots returned back.<\/p>\n By the time she turned 17, Sonya got tired of all the non-rewarding efforts she was putting in, to become ‘acceptable’ for the society. She realized that this is not something she wants.<\/p>\n So she decided to come to terms with vitiligo as a life-long condition and invest her time and energy in realizing the dream of entering the fashion industry instead of taking any more treatments or making compromises.<\/p>\n At the young age of 17, she left for the United States to study fashion marketing at Woodbury University.<\/p>\n The inclusive and mature environment in Unites States helped her greatly making a quick progress in the journey of self-acceptance and self-love.<\/p>\n Unlike Malaysia, people in Unites States were less judgmental and more welcoming. It allowed her to be comfortable with her appearance and she gained a lot of confidence.<\/p>\n Now, as Sonya has returned back to Malaysia, she still observes people staring at her sometimes. But, it doesn\u2019t bother her as much as it used to earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cHere in Malaysia, things are a little tougher as compared to the United States certainly because the lack of awareness. Also, the Malaysian society is still a conservative one and the people hesitate to embrace diversity.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Just like everyone else with vitiligo, sometimes, I too feel like giving up and discouraged, but I really push myself out of the comfort zone to bounce back stronger.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Despite a hard childhood, she has always wanted to become a model. Now that she is blessed with vitiligo and the patchy skin makes her look different from others and brings immediate attention, she is encouraged by friends to try luck in modeling. May be she would be the next Winnie Harlow and in the process, she would pave the way for the coming generations to believe in themselves and chase their dreams no matter what.<\/p>\n “I have studied fashion and marketing and now doing a stable job in the apparel marketing domain, so definitely it will be a big decision for me to take modeling as full time. Moreover, I am still getting comfortable with my appearance. You can say it\u2019s a work in progress. So, I am taking small steps, one at a time, to boost my confidence as well as motivate the other women with vitiligo to accept and embrace themselves.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n By participating in fashion weeks and doing photo shots, Sonya is slowly but surely breaking the moulds of \u2018ideal beauty\u2019 and helping the people with vitiligo and other skin conditions to be comfortable in their own skin and accept the way they are.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nNo treatment worked for her except acceptance and self-love<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Moving to the US for studies helped her greatly <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Raising awareness about vitiligo and body positivity activism<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n