TO OUR BODIES, WITH LOVE

BOITUMELO RAMETSI, 28, Bodypositive Philanthropist, Founder, creative director and visual storyteller at B Glam SA.

“I wasn’t born with vitiligo. It made its first appearance on my body when I was 12, and started spreading to, mostly, the right side of my body and face by the time I reached varsity. Driving to and from varsity, I was exposed to the sun more, and the spots spread more vigorously.

I remember struggling with accepting myself and being so mad that I’d bang doors and ask my mother, ‘What is this?’ and tell her that I wouldn’t have children. I spent years hiding my vitiligo behind thick layers of foundation, but this meant that I couldn’t sweat or blow my nose in public