Amy Deanna is first black model with vitiligo to be the face of CoverGirl

Models with unconventional features are beginning to receive their much overdue shine. It brings to mind Chantelle Brown-Young, also known as Winnie Harlow. Harlow made her mark by appearing on America’s Next Top Model and subsequently snagging a modeling contract with The Squad – an agency based in London.

Now, Amy Deanna is also making her mark in the modeling world by gaining a contract with CoverGirl advertising their truBlend foundation.

Amy Deanna is a 20-year-old Texas native. Deanna’s addition to CoverGirl’s #IAmWhatIMakeUp campaign is an ode to all of the unique beauties who do not feel celebrated in a world where we are often unfairly categorized. Our features are seldom celebrated unless they appear on our counterparts that are often lighter in skin tone.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder that occurs when melanocytes or pigment cells stop producing melanin which leaves white patches over the affected areas.  It’s not a fatal disease, however, it can cause psychological ailments due to the stigmatization and confrontational behavior the sufferer experiences due to their unconventional looks.

It is estimated that 100 million worldwide are afflicted with the skin disorder.  Nonetheless, though there is no cure, there are treatments for the skin disease such as topical creams and ointments which can produce pigment in the skin, laser treatments which act as a light therapy and work best on dark-skinned patients, and surgery although the healing can be uneven across the skin which can look like scarring.

Deanna says: “Vitiligo awareness is something that is very important to me,” “Being given a platform to do so means so much.” “At the end of the day I am just like everyone else, I just happen to have spots. It’s a part of my identity, but it doesn’t define who I am.” She adds to Daily Mail UK: “The fashion and beauty industry sometimes feels like a private party that only a select few get invited to,’ ‘It’s very “You can’t sit with us.” To me, that is not progressive.

Deanna explains to People Magazine where she gets her inspiration to forge ahead, “A few of my favorites would have to be Queen Latifah, Rihanna, Issa Rae, and Zendaya,” “I’m thankful to take part in this. It’s surreal. I believe that inclusiveness will challenge unrealistic beauty standards within the beauty industry and in humanity. I remember seeing Queen Latifah on TV as a CoverGirl when I was young. That was so inspiring. I can’t express how excited I am to say, I too have had the opportunity to work with CoverGirl.”

In the ad, she can be seen confidently asking while applying makeup to her face, “Why try to blend in when you can choose how to stand out?”

We couldn’t agree more.