Body language: Jasroop Kaur Singh on embracing vitiligo as a catalyst for inner strength

When Jasroop Kaur Singh was younger, there were times when she would leave the house without make-up, only to be met with stares and whispers from people around her. “I felt so uncomfortable,” the London-based model tells Bazaar India. “But now I’ve turned it from a negative into a positive and I want people to stare because I’m happy within myself.” Singh was diagnosed with vitiligo at the age of four. “It began with a small patch on the corner of my eye, but over time, it started to spread very quickly across my skin. Back then, vitiligo was a significant taboo in South Asian culture.” Throughout her childhood, Singh frequently travelled to India for numerous dermatological appointments to “cure” her condition. She admits that this period was particularly challenging. “I was getting bullied very badly, which began to take a toll on my mental health. On top of that, I was taking a lot of different medications.” When she was 11, Singh made the pivotal decision to stop taking medication. “It wasn’t because I didn’t want to be cured, but because I was in a really bad place. My family supported my choice. The doctors were making a lot of money from us every month for treatments that couldn’t cure vitiligo.”

During the Covid lockdown, Singh’s life took an unexpected turn. She found the courage to step out of her house without any make-up, proudly showing her bare skin in a crop top and shorts. “I was genuinely happy. If it weren’t for the lockdown, I might never have become comfortable with who I am. If I wasn’t at peace with my own skin, I wouldn’t be modelling. I wouldn’t be in the industry.” After she began posting pictures of herself on Instagram, she was signed by Zebedee Talent in December 2020. Within a week, Singh found herself booked for global beauty campaigns and fashion editorials. Modelling provided Singh with a platform to raise awareness about vitiligo, but she acknowledges that self-love was crucial before she could embrace this new role.

Today, Singh can’t imagine living any differently. “People ask me questions all the time about my skin. Instead of shutting them down as I did when I was younger, I’m now proud of who I am.” Through her journey of self-acceptance, Singh has learnt to be kinder to herself and to others. “You can ask me as many questions as you like because, at the end of the day, people are just curious and want to be more educated.” The negative comments that once affected her no longer have the same impact. Singh reflects, “I’m really happy and grateful to have reached a point where I’ve developed a thick skin and simply don’t care about what others think.” Her journey from discomfort and self-doubt to self-acceptance and confidence serves as an inspiring example of the power of embracing one’s true self and finding strength in vulnerability.

Lead image credit: Ankur Maniar, Saurabh Bishwas, Agnidhra Ray

This article first appeared in Harper's Bazaar India, August 2024, print edition. 

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