- By Srishti Pandey
- Sat, 18 May 2024 03:54 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a landmark moment, Mumbai-based content creator Aastha Shah made history by walking the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival as the first Indian with vitiligo. Her presence was a powerful statement, showcasing that beauty truly comes in all shades and patterns.
Aastha, who has one million followers, proudly displayed her vitiligo at Cannes, saying, "For years, I struggled with feeling beautiful because of my vitiligo. Today, I walked the red carpet at Cannes, not in spite of my vitiligo but because of it. I want to show everyone that beauty comes in all shades and patterns."
Dressed in a stunning green gown by designer Fouad Sarkis, Aastha looked ethereal. The gown's intricate design and flowing silhouette highlighted her natural beauty and vitiligo in a way that was both empowering and inspiring. The content creator is also supported by the popular short video magazine, Brut.
On Instagram, Aastha shared a series of photos from the event, captioning them, "Greenest flag on the red carpet at Cannes."
The 26-year-old has been living with vitiligo since childhood. Initially, she had patches and was on medication. "I was never really conscious about my body because my parents always made me feel comfortable. It was society at large that made me feel like there was something wrong with me," she told IANS.
Eventually, as her vitiligo spread, Aastha decided to stop medication and embrace herself fully. She wanted to inspire others to accept themselves as they are. Aastha also cited Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow, known globally as the 'Vitiligo Queen,' as her biggest inspiration.