It's no secret that we live in a society that's obsessed with appearance.
Most people, especially women, have probably felt self-conscious, ashamed, or uncomfortable because they felt that their looks weren't "good enough" for them to be valued as unique individuals. And that's really sad.
We become so used to hiding the parts of ourselves that we feel are "wrong" or "ugly" that sometimes we forget that these characteristics are actually what makes us us.
That was the case for former model Breanne Rice. Rice was diagnosed at 19 with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that causes the skin to lose pigment in patches across the face and body.
Vitiligo affects only about 1 percent of people on the planet, and the multicolored effect causes many to feel self-conscious in their own skin.
Luckily, our perceptions of beauty are ever expanding and becoming more inclusive. Supermodel Winnie Harlow, who also has vitiligo, became a spokesperson for embracing our unique features, even if society wants to tell us we're "wrong."
Perhaps taking inspiration from Harlow, Rice decided to show the world her true face. Watching her embrace her skin and feel beautiful is truly inspirational. Read on to learn her story.
[H/T: 22 Words]
Breanne Rice is a former model and was featured on the reality TV series The Bachelor. Today, she runs a holistic health website and works as a health and wellness writer.
And she's super pretty!
But Rice was also hiding something from the public every day.
She was diagnosed with vitiligo at 19. This autoimmune disorder causes pigment loss on the face and body, resulting in pale patches.
She spent the next 12 years hiding her skin condition under thick layers of makeup, and felt especially self-conscious about the pigment loss on her face.
But one day, she got tired of hiding.
"In the last couple of years, I decided I didn't want to feel like this anymore," she explained in an Instagram post.
"I spent my 20s feeling insecure and basing my self-worth on how I looked, and I didn't want to look in the mirror and worry about not having perfect skin."
She's also made some lifestyle changes to boot her immune system's health, which she says has helped some of the pigment return.
But she's also honest about the precautions she has to take, like avoiding the sun to protect the unpigmented areas of her skin.
But the biggest transformation was the internal one that allowed her to embrace herself for who she was.
She's also candid about the fact that she still struggles with confidence, and that like anything, it's a work in progress.
She still wears makeup, but now it's about wanting to rather than feeling like she has to. Instead, she'll concentrate on loving herself.
"There's not much I can do about it," she says of her skin. "I can only love myself, and not let my circumstances define my value or self-worth."
She also has a message for everyone.
"Perhaps you have a circumstance or something about yourself that you are insecure about. Don't let it define you. You deserve love, and you are beautiful."
You can learn more about vitiligo and about Rice on her website, as well as on Instagram.
SHARE her inspiring statement with everyone you think is beautiful!
