Unveiling the Mask: 7 Years of Hidden Beauty Revealed on TV
In today’s world, we are often quick to judge others based on their appearance.
But the truth is that no one is just their appearance or skin color – we are all so much more.
Nineteen-year-old Maria looks like any other teenager, but for seven years she hid a secret from everyone except her family and best friends.
Out of fear that people would think she was different, she covered her face with heavy make-up.
The reason? Mariah has vitiligo – a disease that causes the skin to lose color in patchy patterns.
Unfortunately, the disease is surrounded by prejudices and ignorance. But hopefully that will change as Mariah and others like her come forward and show the world that vitiligo individuals are also beautiful.
Mariah was only 11 when she saw a small white spot on her finger.
At first, she didn’t think much of it. She showed it to her mother, who assured her it was nothing.
But in the following months, Mariah discovered spots all over her body and eventually went to the doctor.
“I was so relieved to get a diagnosis at first. But the more I found out, the more worried I became,” Mariah told The Mirror.
As she entered her teenage years, Mariah found it increasingly difficult and felt like she didn’t fit in.
She spent hours in front of the mirror with makeup so that no one would discover her skin condition.
“I couldn’t hug people. No one could touch my face. I was always so afraid of messing up my makeup and constantly looked in the mirror,” says Mariah.
But when Mariah started university in Baltimore, everything changed.
Being thrown into a new environment was the best thing that ever happened to her, Mariah found.
It was also her first step in talking about her condition and feeling comfortable in her own skin.
Watch Mariah’s transformation as she tells her story and removes her makeup for the cameras:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6-048-l_N8
Isn’t Maria brave! I’m so glad she found the strength to speak out.
Please share this story with everyone you know who would be inspired by this beautiful nineteen-year-old!
