I think I'm beautiful': Model Winnie Harlow, who suffers from rare Vitiligo skin condition, gives empowering talk at Women in the World event

The 21-year-old America's Next Top Model contestant has starred in campaigns for Desigual and Diesel
She was diagnosed with vitiligo, a pigment condition that causes white patches to form on skin, at the age of four

By KAYLEIGH GILES and REBECCA DAVISON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 15:59, 9 October 2015 | UPDATED: 18:00, 9 October 2015

She found fame after having her selfies discovered on social media.

And while the 2015 Women in the World event, held in London, saw some of the panelists, who included singer Nina Nesbitt and psychotherapist Susie Orbach, speak about the pressures and the downfalls of networking sites such as Instagram and Twitter, Winnie understandably was keen to sing their praises.

When Orbach surprised the audience by saying most girls want 126 'likes' whenever they upload a photo onto social media, the 21-year-old model said that there were also many positives to be taken.

Opening up: Model Winnie Harlow, who suffers from rare Vitiligo skiin condition, gave an empowering speech about body confidence at Women in the World event in London on Friday

Opening up about her body confidence, she said: 'Everyone asks me what the turning point was but it was just me making the effort to focus on my opinion on myself.'

The beauty - who suffers from a rare Vitilgo skin condition - added: 'I was like, wait I don't actually think I'm ugly - I think I'm beautiful. So where did I get this idea I wasn't? From someone else.

'Now I've learnt to just listen to yourself.'

Wise words: Opening up about her body confidence, she said: 'Everyone asks me what the turning point was but it was just me making the effort to focus on my opinion on myself'

Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - also revealed that it was the positive reaction she received on social media that spurred her to pursue a career in modelling.

'I never wanted to be a model. It was a hobby. I posted to social media and was discovered,' the American stunner - who has been linked to Mariah Carey's ex Nick Cannon - dished.

Her empowering comments came after the star put on an alluring display when she headed to a Monica Vinader jewellery launch on Thursday evening.

Inspiring: Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - also revealed that it was the positive reaction she received on social media that spurred her to pursue a career in modelling

Leggy lady: Winnie looked sensational when she headed to a Monica Vinader jewellery launch on Thursday evening

Wow thing: The 21-year-old, who has been linked to Mariah Carey's ex, Nick Cannon, looked very leggy when she stepped out wearing a claret kimono mini dress and over-the-knee boots at the London store

The America's Next Top Model star looked leggy when she stepped out wearing a claret kimono mini dress from Gestuz and over-the-knee boots by Public Desire.

In typically edgy fashion, Winnie was sporting a septum piercing and ear cuff arrived with her model friend Jeri Ali and was seen sharing a giggle with her.

Fellow model Jodie Kidd, 37, was pictured at the event, wearing a low-key look which included an edgy leather jacket and skinny jeans and flat ankle boots.

Also present was X Factor runner-up Fleur East who looked lovely in a black lace dress and strappy heels.

What are they talking about? She shared a giggle with friend and fellow model Jeri Ali on the night

Picture perfect: The girls showed off their naturally good looks as they checked out the range

Firm friends: She posed with the jewellery designer Monica Vinader, who is promoting a new #sheinspiresme friendship band

Da-dah! The girls all showed off their friendship bracelets as they posed for a group shot

While Brian McFadden's ex Vogue Williams looked lovely in a lilac sleeveless dress which tied at the waist and nude court shoes.

Meanwhile, Winnie sported a more relaxed style when she hit the streets of London with a male companion earlier in the day.

She rocked a fashion-forward sports luxe style as she enjoyed a brisk stroll through the British capital.

Before that, she was last seen rocking a skintight pencil dress when she hit the town for what appeared to be a romantic dinner date with Nick Cannon in Los Angeles last month.

Winnie showcased her model figure in a pair of grey leggings and a graphic bomber jacket.

She's done this before: After smiling, Winnie was back to full on pout mode once again

Stunning: Winnie's pal Jeri towered over her as the pair were pictured arriving at the event earlier in the evening

Party hopping: Winnie hopped over to the Sexy Fish restaurant afterwards

Looking leggy: The brunette wore knee-high boots with her kimono mini

Two beauties: Winnie was accompanied by gal pal Jeri Ali to the second party

Model material: Brian McFadden's ex Vogue Williams looked lovely in a lilac dress and nude heels

Girl talk: X Factor runner up Fleur East (left) looked lovely in a black and white lace dress while Jodie Kidd (right) went for the casual look (right)

Sexy: Neelam Gill, who has been linked to Zayn Malik, worked a leather look at the bash

Cute look: English classical singer Camilla Kerslake teamed a pink jumper with a tweed mini

She finished the look with a black running trainers and a harmonising bucket bag.

She injected the look with a touch of quirkiness thanks to a grey and black baseball cap emblazoned with a fluffy blue ball.

Her raven locks were worn in a sleek style around her face.

Fashionista: Winnie Harlow sported a sports luxe style when she hit the streets of London with a male companion on Thursday

Out and about: The 21-year-model was seen enjoying a brisk stroll through the British capital with a male companion

Proud: The beauty describes her self as a 'vitiligo spokesmodel' on Instagram and gives motivational speeches

In demand: Winnie is a former America's Next Top Model contestant who has starred in campaigns for Desigual and Diesel

Winnie is a former America's Next Top Model contestant who has starred in campaigns for Desigual and Diesel.

She was diagnosed with vitiligo, a pigment condition that causes white patches to form on skin, at the age of four.

The star recently spoke about how she overcame years of bulling and abuse, telling Cosmopolitan in July that she was cruelly nicknamed 'cow' because of the white patches covering her face and body growing up.

Power couple: It's believed that the natural beauty has been dating Mariah Carey's ex Nick Cannon after they were spotted leaving Mr. Chows restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, late last month

She first spoke publicly about her skin condition in 2011 in a YouTube titled 'Vitiligo: A Skin Condition not a Life Changer,' and was later asked to audition for Tyra Banks' show by a producer on Facebook.

Along with her print campaigns, she has also walked the runway at fashion weeks in Madrid and New York.

Now, Winnie describes her self as a 'vitiligo spokesmodel' on Instagram and gives motivational speeches.

Meanwhile, it's believed that the natural beauty has been dating Mariah Carey's ex Nick Cannon after they were spotted leaving Mr. Chows restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, late last month, though the rumoured love interests are yet to confirm their romance.

Inspirational: Winnie recently shared this picture of herself with her friends, writing: 'tried every filter.. But we look better without it stk #londontown (reunited with my baby @jeriali)

Outlandish: The model injected her style with a touch of quirkiness with a felt baseball cap emblazoned with a blue fluffy ball

WHAT IS VITILIGO?

Vitiligo is a long-term condition that causes pale, white patches to develop on the skin due to the lack of a chemical called melanin.

Melanin, which is produced by specialised skin cells called melanocytes, gives the skin its colour and protects it from the sun.

It's not clear exactly what causes this lack of melanin, but it has been linked to problems with the immune system and nerve endings in the skin.

Vitiligo can affect any area of the skin, but most commonly occurs on skin exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck and hands.

The condition varies from person to person.

Some people only get a few small, white patches, but others get bigger white patches that join up across large areas of their skin.

There is no way of predicting how much skin will be affected. The white patches are usually permanent.

Certain things can increase the chance of developing vitiligo, such as a family history of the condition or having another autoimmune problem, like an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

Vitiligo is not caused by an infection and it cannot be caught from contact with someone who has it.

In around half of people affected it starts before the age of 20, although it can occur at any age. Men and women are equally affected, as are people of different ethnicities.

Source: NHS Choices

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Friday, 9 October 2015

Model Winnie Harlow, who suffers from rare Vitiligo skin condition, gives empowering talk at Women in the World event

I think I'm beautiful': Model Winnie Harlow, who suffers from rare Vitiligo skin condition, gives empowering talk at Women in the World event

WHAT IS VITILIGO?