A cosmetics fan has come under fire after sharing a make-up look that seemed strongly inspired by vitiligo, a skin condition that causes discoloration.
Instagram user Golgiknowsbest shared the make-up look on his account earlier this week. The finished look, which includes white patches around his eyes and mouth, is extremely similar to the discolored patches model Winnie Harlow sports on her own face.
Harlow, 23, is a former contestant on America’s Next Top Model and has raised awareness about vitiligo. The condition, which is suspected to result from an autoimmune reaction, led to her being cruelly bullied in her childhood, leaving her with suicidal thoughts.
Outrage: Cosmetics fan Golgiknowsbest has come under fire after sharing a make-up look that seemed strongly inspired by vitiligo, a skin condition that causes discoloration
Rings a bell? The finished look is extremely similar to the discolored patches model Winnie Harlow (pictured) sports on her own face
Twitter user @ESHAXQ called out Golgiknowsbest by sharing a photo of his make-up look on the social media platform, writing: ‘See what we’re NOT gonna do here is mimic skin conditions and make them a makeup trend.’
The same Twitter user added: ‘Really don’t understand why people are comparing vitiligo to the freckles make-up trend. Freckles are most definitely not a skin disorder.’
Other Twitter users were outraged by the make-up look, with one person writing: ‘This makes me LIVID. My beautiful cousin has vitiligo and was severely bullied her whole life over this condition. She herself is a work of art. This is not art.’
Someone else deemed the look ‘disgusting’, and others shared photos of Harlow, pointing out that Golgiknowsbest’s make-up looks extremely similar to the images.
Golgiknowsbest has since deleted his original post and replaced it with an apology, in which he claimed he never tried to replicate vitiligo but was instead inspired by Drag Race alum Valentina.
In the photo he appeared to be referring to, Valentina has grey patches on her arms and on her face, though they are only located around her eyes, not at all around her mouth.
‘To clarify: this was inspired by a photo of @allaboutvalentina in which she had grey splotches on her face and running down her arms,’ he wrote.
‘This look was just a way for me to have more fun/experiment with my make-up. I in NO WAY intended for this to represent vitiligo, and I sincerely apologize that it offended so many people.
Speaking out: Twitter user @ESHAXQ called out Golgiknowsbest by sharing a photo of his make-up look on the social media platform and accusing him of mimicking a skin condition
Making their voices heard: Other Twitter users were outraged by the make-up look, with one person explaining that their cousin has vitiligo too
Message: Golgiknowsbest has posted an apology, in which he claimed he never tried to replicate vitiligo but was instead inspired by Drag Race alum Valentina
‘I do admit I could’ve clarified some of that a bit more, but we all learn from our mistakes! At the end of the day, no one is immune to controversy and we can all grow from it!’
However, the apology did little to appease certain Instagram users, who didn’t believe it.
‘Ok but you literally drew her vitiligo pattern exactly where hers is on your own face lmao,’ one person wrote, apparently in reference to Warlow.
‘I don’t believe you didn’t mean for this to look like vitiligo. It looked exactly like it and you’re a smart person I believe the thought crossed your mind,’ someone else commented.
‘Vitiligo shouldn’t be a makeup ‘trend’ bc it’s a condition and many people have been bullied over it growing up etc. so to paint your face like that is disrespectful. However, you acknowledged it was wrong and peacefully apologized and deleted the post so thank you for that. Just be careful of things in the future.’
While she has spoken publicly about vitiligo, Warlow has made a point of separating her identity from the condition, explaining that her modeling career doesn’t rest on her skin color.
‘I’m just living life. And if that inspires you, I’m proud, but I’m not going to put pressure on myself to be the best person in the world and tell everyone I have vitiligo,’ she previously told Elle Canada. ‘If you want to know about it, you can do your research. Either way, I’m not in the dictionary under “vitiligo.”‘