Winnie Harlow, born Chantelle Brown-Young, is a Canadian supermodel who gained fame on America’s Next Top Model in 2014. She became the first model with vitiligo to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and now advocates for diversity in beauty while running her own skincare brand, Cay Skin.
The fashion world has always had strict rules about beauty. Then Winnie Harlow walked onto the scene and changed everything. She didn’t hide her vitiligo. She owned it.
In 2018, Harlow became the first model with vitiligo to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. That moment meant everything to people who felt different. It showed them they belonged. Today, she’s not just a model. She’s a beauty entrepreneur, actress, and advocate who’s built an empire on authenticity.
This article covers Harlow’s rise from childhood struggles to global fame. You’ll learn about her modeling career, business ventures, advocacy work, and personal life. We’ll explore how she transformed an industry that once rejected her.
Early Life and Vitiligo Diagnosis
Winnie Harlow was born Chantelle Brown-Young on July 27, 1994, in the Greater Toronto Area. Her childhood changed forever at age four when doctors diagnosed her with vitiligo.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes skin to lose pigment, creating white patches. The condition affects an estimated 1.9 to 2.8 million adults in the United States. For young Chantelle, it meant enduring years of bullying.
The Bullying Years
Throughout her childhood, kids called her names like “zebra” and “cow.” Other children avoided her because their parents thought vitiligo was contagious. It’s not. The isolation cut deep.
Her mother became her anchor. She often reminded her daughter: “You are so much more than just your cover. You are so much more than your vitiligo.” Those words stuck. They became the foundation of her confidence.
Breaking Into Modeling
In 2014, Harlow competed on Tyra Banks’ “America’s Next Top Model.” The show gave her a platform. People started noticing her. Her Instagram following grew. Brands reached out.
But the path wasn’t easy. The first time she went to a modeling agency, they told her if she wanted to be anywhere near the fashion industry, she should become a makeup artist instead. The rejection fueled her determination.
First Major Campaigns
After America’s Next Top Model, opportunities came fast. She modeled for Spanish clothing brand Desigual and became its official brand representative. In September 2014, she walked and closed for Ashish’s spring/summer 2015 collection in London Fashion Week.
Major magazines followed. Vogue Italia, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Complex all featured her. In 2015, Harlow modeled for Italian brand Diesel’s spring/summer campaign, shot by British photographer Nick Knight.
Career Milestones
Harlow’s career hit several major milestones that cemented her status as a fashion icon.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
The 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show marked a turning point. Walking in that show was a dream for many models. For Harlow, it meant something bigger. She represented everyone who felt excluded from traditional beauty standards.
Magazine Covers and Campaigns
She’s graced the covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire. In 2024, she appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue as part of their 60th Anniversary Legends feature.
Her advertising campaigns include Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Puma, MAC, and Steve Madden. Each campaign pushed boundaries and challenged what beauty could look like.
Film and Television
In 2024, she made a guest appearance on television dramedy Grown-ish, followed by a voice role in cartoon series Monster High. She had a lead role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe animated series Eyes of Wakanda.
She also served as a judge on season two of Amazon Prime’s “Making the Cut.”
Building Cay Skin
In March 2022, Harlow launched Cay Skin, a sun care and skincare brand. The inspiration came from a personal experience. She was badly sunburned on a photoshoot where the photographer requested she not reapply sunscreen to avoid the white cast most sunscreen products leave in photos.
In 2022, Harlow launched Cay Skin, which surpassed $4.1 million in funding, making her one of only 12 women of color founders to raise over $1 million. The brand focuses on clean, reef-safe products that work for all skin tones.
The success of Cay Skin proved Harlow understood her audience. She built products that solved real problems she experienced herself.
Advocacy and Impact
Vitiligo Awareness
Harlow uses her platform to educate people about vitiligo. She posted a video titled “Vitiligo: A Skin Condition, not a Life Changer” on YouTube in July 2011. She spoke in a TEDx presentation about her experience with vitiligo in November 2014.
Recently, she partnered with pharmaceutical company Incyte for “The Power of Choice” campaign. “Growing up with vitiligo, I often felt like I was the only person in the world like me,” Harlow explained. The campaign aims to educate people and provide support for those living with the condition.
Representation in Fashion
This past summer, she unveiled her Madame Tussauds wax figure on World Vitiligo Day, making history as the first person ever mapped in wax with vitiligo.
She’s changed how the industry views diversity. Models with vitiligo, albinism, and other visible differences now have more opportunities because she paved the way.
Awards and Recognition
She was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in 2018. She was presented with the ‘Role Model’ award at the 2015 Portuguese GQ Men of The Year event.
In fall 2023, she returned to her native Canada, where she was honored to accept the United Nations Association in Canada’s Global Citizen Award for her work shattering norms in the fashion industry.
Personal Life
Relationship with Kyle Kuzma
In February 2025, Canadian model Winnie Harlow announced her engagement to NBA star Kyle Kuzma. The proposal happened on a beach with fireworks overhead. Kuzma chartered a private jet to the islands with roses, balloons, chocolate and champagne.
He revealed an 8.5-carat oval-cut engagement ring. The couple has attended numerous fashion events together, including the Cannes Film Festival and the amfAR Gala.
Recent Appearances
Harlow attended the 2024 CFDA Awards, held at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History. She wore a gown by designer Kate Barton, featuring a metallic silver bodice and light blue skirt.
She continues to attend major events, from Fashion Week shows to film premieres, cementing her status as a global style icon.
Winnie Harlow’s Impact on Beauty Standards
| Aspect | Before Harlow | After Harlow |
|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo Representation | Rare in mainstream fashion | Visible on major runways and campaigns |
| Beauty Standards | Narrow definition of perfection | Broader acceptance of unique features |
| Model Diversity | Limited to traditional looks | Expansion to include visible differences |
| Brand Campaigns | Avoided non-traditional models | Actively seek diverse representation |
Lessons From Her Journey
Harlow’s story teaches several important lessons. First, what makes you different can become your greatest asset. She turned what others saw as a flaw into her signature.
Second, representation matters. Seeing someone like you in spaces where you’ve been excluded changes everything. It opens doors and shifts perspectives.
Third, business success comes from solving real problems. Cay Skin works because Harlow understood what people with her skin type needed.
Finally, advocacy requires authenticity. “Over time, I’ve learned that it isn’t just about what you see on the skin,” she explained. Her message resonates because she’s lived it.
Current Projects and Future Plans
Harlow continues expanding her reach. She’s writing a children’s book titled “Simply Winnie.” She said her forthcoming book offers visibility and inclusion without making vitiligo the center of her story because “so many things come before the fact that I have vitiligo.”
She remains active in fashion, walking for designers like VETEMENTS and Marine Serre. Her business ventures grow as Cay Skin expands its product line. Her acting career develops with more voice work and screen appearances.
Most importantly, she continues advocating for diversity and inclusion in every space she enters.
FAQs
What is Winnie Harlow’s real name?
Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young. She adopted “Winnie Harlow” as her professional name.
When did Winnie Harlow get diagnosed with vitiligo?
She was diagnosed at age four in 1998.
Is Winnie Harlow married?
She’s engaged to NBA player Kyle Kuzma as of February 2025.
What is Cay Skin?
A sun care and skincare brand Harlow founded in 2022 focused on reef-safe products.
How many Instagram followers does Winnie Harlow have?
Over 10 million followers across her social media platforms.
Conclusion
Winnie Harlow transformed an industry that once rejected her. She proved that beauty comes in forms the fashion world hadn’t imagined. Her success extends beyond modeling into entrepreneurship, acting, and advocacy.
Her journey from bullied child to global icon shows what happens when someone refuses to let others define their worth. She didn’t just break barriers. She created a new standard.
The next generation of models, entrepreneurs, and advocates will build on the foundation she created. That’s her real legacy. Not the magazine covers or runway shows, but the doors she opened for everyone who comes after her. Beauty standards will never be the same.
