Even though it is not a rare condition, the 24-year-old was bullied in school for looking different from other kids. Image courtesy: PA Real Life
A New Yorker with a skin condition has found the perfect, and permanent, response to those who look at her askance. Tiffany Posteraro got a tattoo that reads "It's Called Vitiligo," for everyone who has ever made and might make her feel uncomfortable by staring at her, the question hovering unspoken on their lips. Her story has gone viral.
Ms Posteraro suffers from a skin disease in which one gets dark or pale patches on the body because of low melanin. Even though it is not a rare condition, the 24-year-old was bullied in school for looking different from other kids.
In an interview with
The Mirror, she said: "People would say, 'did you tan under a tree?' I got called 'cow', 'Dalmatian', 'ghost face', 'burns victim'."
She even confessed to pancaking herself with a thick coat of make-up to hide her spots until she saw America's Next Top Model 2014 contestant Winnie Harlow on TV, making no attempt to hide her own vitiligo.
"It was the first time I had properly met someone else with the condition. I was so excited I went straight over to her and said, 'You have vitiligo - so do I. She told me about various support groups and Facebook communities I never knew existed. It was so empowering," she told The Mirror.
Soon after, Ms Posteraro got a big tattoo over the pale spot on her forearm as a sign of liberation. And ever since, she has been inspiring women across the globe.
Photo Credit: PA Real Life
Seeing her story going viral, Tiffany Posteraro shared a post on her Facebook page on Wednesday:
"I am officially trending on Yahoo! I am completely shocked as to just how much my story has spread over the last week. I really hope I can inspire at least one person to embrace who they truly are and to bring as much awareness as possible to this condition."