Set to grace the illustrious red carpet of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Aastha Shah, hailing from Mumbai, emerges as a trailblazing Indian content creator, proudly bearing the skin condition vitiligo.
In a profound defiance of conventional beauty norms, Aastha stands poised to deliver a resounding message from one of the world's most esteemed cinematic gatherings. Backed by the widely acclaimed short videos magazine, 'Brut', Aastha's journey, chronicled by her legion of 944,000 (and growing!) followers, unfolds as a beacon of empowerment.
Reflecting on her personal odyssey, Aastha shared with IANS, "Vitiligo has been a part of my life since childhood. Initially, grappling with patches and undergoing treatment, I was shielded from self-consciousness by the unwavering support of my parents. It was societal perceptions that cast doubts on my self-image."
The 26-year-old luminary made a deliberate choice to halt treatment as the condition spread across her body, opting instead to embark on a path of self-acceptance and advocacy for others.
"My journey commenced with Humans of Bombay, whose feature on my life story resonated with millions," Aastha recounted. "Engaging diverse social media platforms, I leveraged collaborations with brands to effect tangible change. Partnering with beauty giant Nykaa to introduce a foundation shade matching my skin tone and gracing the cover of Cosmopolitan alongside other influential women for their Women's Day edition were pivotal moments," she added.
Vitiligo, characterized by the progressive loss of skin pigmentation, serves as the backdrop against which Aastha endeavors to amplify her message of inclusivity and acceptance on the global stage of Cannes.
Reflecting on the challenges posed by her condition, Aastha recalled, "I endured bullying and constant pressure to conceal my skin, with misconceptions surrounding its contagious nature prevailing despite scientific evidence."
But, reinforced by the unshakeable support of her family, Aastha remained adamant about her beliefs. For inspiration, she mentions Canadian supermodel Winnie Harlow, known globally as the 'Vitiligo Queen'.
"She's the one with a phenomenal set of being graceful and confident with her skin; that's where I get my inspiration from," Aastha said.
As she readies her name to be written in the Cannes history books, Aastha takes with her the dreams of a generation seeking acknowledgement and representation.
"My mission is to reassure so many others like me that it's not only valid but necessary to have such ambitious dreams and pursue such lofty goals," she declared.
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