Instagram connects, friendships develop and you find inspiration in the topics that occupy and interest you. I like to use my Instagram account for my purposes and I am also active on the platform every day. I also think it really depends on how you use social media for yourself and what you make out of your daily content. Also most of my collaborations and photo shoots I generate through my Instagram account. I have to say again and again that it doesn't matter HOW many followers you have, important is WHO your followers are and what contacts you care for. This can turn into leads to new wonderful works and contacts.
So, the dear Marion has found her way to me and told me her story, which I will tell about in this blog. Marion, a mother of two children, 32 years old and a young pretty woman who now no longer covers or hides her vitiligo.
Unfortunately, this was not always the case, because Marion had always struggled to deal with weak and stupid comments.
Especially at work she had to listen to comments such as; "Watch out, soon you're all white and as a vampire you shouldn't stand in the sun, otherwise you won't be here any time soon."
Marion's vitiligo began in 2013, at the age of 24. First with a very small spot in the corner of the eye, which then enlarged and moved up to her forehead. Also, in other places on her face, such as on the chin, appeared spots. The vitiligo appears mainly on the forehead. The neck and décolleté are also depigmented on a large scale. Depending on the season, due to Marion's complexion, the pigmentation appears weaker or stronger and thus, of course, the vitiligo as well. In winter, she tells me, you can almost only see it on the neck.
Since we are both mothers, we also talked about how the skin behaved during pregnancy or how we are doing in other countries and at sunny holiday destinations. For my part, I can now underline the fact that vitiligo also has something to do with hormones. My vitiligo has increased significantly during pregnancy. Even though I am exposed to severe stress, I have a noticeable change in the color of my vitiligo, for example under the eye. This was not the case with Marion, but her spots change in shape, as is the case with me. When Marion visited sunny Mallorca, the vitiligo began with her hands for the first time. For me, however, my vitiligo disappeared almost completely when I lived in the USA, in Florida, which i found really interesting too.
Marion also tells me that she often thinks about how things happen to people whose skin doesn't seem so bright. Where the white spots produce a very strong contrast and that they often get almost a bad conscience over people. There are also countries in which a skin image that does not conforms to the norm is misunderstood as something malicious, where people are accused of being occupied with a curse. Here I am very happy that in our Western world we are very progressive with the issue of diversity, even if this is often still misunderstood.
From 2013 to 2016, Marion went through a difficult time in private, which can be put to the moment of trauma. I also find this aspect very interesting, because it is not the first time that vitiligo has been associated with trauma.
"I've been doing really well since last year", the tender voice says cheerfully, making me smile. Instagram in particular has helped Marion talk about vitiligo with positive and interested people.
"Instagram motivates", she says and "It makes me feel special".
I found it very nice to find out a little bit more about the person behind the pictures and the voice on the phone. It also makes me happy about the trust placed in me. I wish Marion many more wonderful encounters, continued success and motivating people who accompany her on her way.
If you also want to tell me your story and are interested in having a blog post written about you, then contact me and maybe next time we will find out something about you!
Photography credits: Marion
Writer: Selina Reinhart
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