Put me on a bus

At the age of 19, I nicked myself while shaving. A tiny little cut on my neck. I didn't think much of it; it had healed, I thought it had healed. But it was white. I'm dark brown (sorry was); I WAS darker than most Indians in my community.??

There began my story. "My story" sounds so grand, but the reality is, there were many stories that started. It's not just one. First, we need to start further back, yes, my childhood. Growing up with darker skin than everyone around you had its issues. Why are you so dark? Were you adopted? Put some talcum powder on your skin. My aunt told me that when my mum bought me home, they thought my mum had picked up a black baby by mistake. My mates were just as harsh.

The list goes on; my gran she's probably looking up from where she is (defo looking up), used to tell me that I'm dark coz mum didn't scrub me and wash me properly as a baby. Colorism at its max! My gran (we called her batty) took me to the local pool during the school holidays. I was having the time of my life. Imagine shit loads of kids, splashing, floats, water toys, fun, laughter, making friends. And suddenly I hear howling! An Indian women in the balcony area wailing to get my attention. I look up, and it's Batty! Our eyes lock, and she starts gesturing for me to scrub myself! All the different ways and places I should clean and wash. Mate! All I could do to stop her was look like I was bathing myself. I mean, Batty would stand outside our bath and shout to tell me to scrub properly, regularly, but this was next-level madness.??

She must be looking up with pride now with how white I've become. Even when my skin was changing, and I had these cow patches on me (that's what kids shouted at me, look, it's a cow). Batty told me to get married quickly; she said dont worry if limbs are missing or she only has one eye, just get married. To be fair, my family was the same; how would he get married? Let's find someone from the village. This is just what I needed. Being at university and suddenly having to deal with the double/triple takes/stairs. All the doctors, alternative medicine, and crackpots. The shitty treatment on nights out, being spat at, pushed, and harassed in public. Not exactly what I wanted when going to university it’s meant to be the best part of life.

Things are a bit different now. Now having Vitiligo, is considered a bit trendy. I have no problem with that. I would happily have pictures taken of me in underwear, slapped on a bus. Show me the money! I'd do a few PT sessions to tone up a bit more; I wouldn't need much, I promise. Seriously @giorgioarmani @calvinklein @zebedeetalent, I dare you, whoever else you might think. It would be a finger up to all the people that underestimated me and made my life hell.

And. I'm blessed. Within some of the dark times, there were slices of light. After being harassed on the train by a gang of lads who thought it would be funny to compare me to MJ and try and get me to sing and dance like MJ. After about 15 minutes of the tournament at 11pm and me trying to make myself as small as possible three people came to help (in my head, I had 3 guardians). One was a celeb from the 1st big brother, the other was a shoplifter, and the last one was a religious person. One told them to piss off, one gave me perspective and the last left me a prayer. Yes, this could have been the beginning of a terrible joke.

Over the past few years, I've heard loads of stories of treatments with people's colour returning. Really kind people thinking of me and asked if I wanted more information. I'm only tempted because I wouldn't want my kids impacted by how I look. And I'm happy. Well, not with the sunburn, even with factor 50. So here's me raising awareness of the many stories in one word, Vitiligo. And that I'm available for modeling gigs.

Ps sorry for being late to the party (World Vitiligo Day); it took me longer to write this.

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