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After Being Bullied For Vitiligo All Her Life, This Girl Now Turns Her Body Into Amazing Art
After Being Bullied For Vitiligo All Her Life, This Girl Now Turns Her Body Into Amazing Art
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After Being Bullied For Vitiligo All Her Life, This Girl Now Turns Her Body Into Amazing Art

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Ash Soto was diagnosed with vitiligo when she was 12. As her vitiligo started spreading, she began to feel ashamed of her skin, especially after a little girl asked her if she had showered in bleach. Now the 21-year-old not only isn’t ashamed, but she embraces her skin.

In her late teens, Soto decided she wouldn’t let her skin hold her back anymore, so she started setting herself daily challenges like walking in public without a long sleeve shirt. Eventually, the challenges led to Soto turning her body into beautiful art. “I never realized how beautiful my vitiligo was until I traced it with a black marker, it really helps to bring out the different colors of my skin,” Soto said to Daily Mail. Now, she has made her body look like so many different art pieces, including Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and she’s not stopping! “Now what others would perceive as an imperfection I have made into something more beautiful and made it more accepted than before.”

More info: Instagram (h/t)

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    Ash Soto was diagnosed with vitiligo when she was 12 years old

    It’s a rare skin disease which causes pigment loss, leaving large white patches all over body

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    During Ash’s teen years vitiligo spreaded the most and the bullying began

    After a little girl asked Ash if she had showered in bleach, Ash felt too ashamed of her skin and decided to never show any of it in public

    “I was so shocked that someone said that to me that I cried and cried, I didn’t want to have the condition any more,” Soto said

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    However, in her late teens, Ash made herself do these little challenges, such as walking outside with a short-sleeved shirt

    But it wasn’t until she started doing body art that she learned to love her skin condition

    She started by drawing around the white patches and saw that it looked like a world map

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    “I never realised how beautiful my vitiligo was until I traced it with a black marker, it really helps to bring out the different colours of my skin”

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    “I will continue creating different pieces of art with my skin and hope it inspires others in the process”

    “Now what others would perceive as an imperfection I have made into something more beautiful and made it more accepted than before”

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    Rūta Grašytė

    Rūta Grašytė

    Author, Community member

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Rūta Grašytė

    Rūta Grašytė

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Amanda Panda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She kind of looks like Aubrey Plaza. I'm glad she was able to finally feel comfortable in her skin! She's gorgeous either way!

    Sick Boy
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    "Ugly" is "gorgeous" in the politically correct newspeak...

    Load More Replies...
    Flora Polvado
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My vitiligo started this time last year. I'm 51, and have always had a healthy body image. I'm kinda enjoying the changes:)

    Arty
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    there is a huge difference between having this at 51 and as a kid at 12. I can understand how this was more difficult for her

    Load More Replies...
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    Another bored panda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Would be nice to see her real face though. You know, without half an inch thick of make up... Pretty sure she looks lovely.

    Cosmin Ailoaie
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BQwAVf_gtqT/?taken-by=radiantbambi&hl=ro

    Load More Replies...
    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the originality and use of body art as a highlight. Shows great initiative too.

    Leo Leden
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Id say its rather beautiful then bad, such a shame she got bullied for it!

    Nick Gisburne
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I imagine she would need some help drawing around the shapes on her back, but she's done a great job herself, and what she's achieved looks awesome. I wonder if she's ever considered having a permanent tattoo outline? With the right artist this could be a real masterpiece. But maybe the act of drawing around it is part of the positive thinking for her. I've always lovely fantasy art maps, and this is an amazing way to turn the tables on her vitiligo. So many thoughts on this - I am truly inspired!

    Jace
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tattooing would be absolutely unwise because the vitiligo will continue to spread and the shapes WILL change.

    Load More Replies...
    Friné
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I loooooooove it! The map idea is insanely beautiful!

    Lu
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have a noticeable birthmark on my forehead...it's always played tricks on my mind. But if anything, I'd say it made sure I met someone who accepted me for who I really am. A man child :-)

    Levon Snyder
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    heck yeah. high five for us man childs =) getting things done with a odd ball wacky attitude. Man Childs unite!!!

    Load More Replies...
    Jace
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm glad to see this isn't tattooing. There are obvious issues there, but only for people who understand that vitiligo changes over time. Anyway, more power to her for finding something fun to do to positively show off the body for which she has wrongly taken abuse.

    Load More Comments
    Amanda Panda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She kind of looks like Aubrey Plaza. I'm glad she was able to finally feel comfortable in her skin! She's gorgeous either way!

    Sick Boy
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    "Ugly" is "gorgeous" in the politically correct newspeak...

    Load More Replies...
    Flora Polvado
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My vitiligo started this time last year. I'm 51, and have always had a healthy body image. I'm kinda enjoying the changes:)

    Arty
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    there is a huge difference between having this at 51 and as a kid at 12. I can understand how this was more difficult for her

    Load More Replies...
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Another bored panda
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Would be nice to see her real face though. You know, without half an inch thick of make up... Pretty sure she looks lovely.

    Cosmin Ailoaie
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BQwAVf_gtqT/?taken-by=radiantbambi&hl=ro

    Load More Replies...
    John L
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the originality and use of body art as a highlight. Shows great initiative too.

    Leo Leden
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Id say its rather beautiful then bad, such a shame she got bullied for it!

    Nick Gisburne
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I imagine she would need some help drawing around the shapes on her back, but she's done a great job herself, and what she's achieved looks awesome. I wonder if she's ever considered having a permanent tattoo outline? With the right artist this could be a real masterpiece. But maybe the act of drawing around it is part of the positive thinking for her. I've always lovely fantasy art maps, and this is an amazing way to turn the tables on her vitiligo. So many thoughts on this - I am truly inspired!

    Jace
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tattooing would be absolutely unwise because the vitiligo will continue to spread and the shapes WILL change.

    Load More Replies...
    Friné
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I loooooooove it! The map idea is insanely beautiful!

    Lu
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have a noticeable birthmark on my forehead...it's always played tricks on my mind. But if anything, I'd say it made sure I met someone who accepted me for who I really am. A man child :-)

    Levon Snyder
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    heck yeah. high five for us man childs =) getting things done with a odd ball wacky attitude. Man Childs unite!!!

    Load More Replies...
    Jace
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm glad to see this isn't tattooing. There are obvious issues there, but only for people who understand that vitiligo changes over time. Anyway, more power to her for finding something fun to do to positively show off the body for which she has wrongly taken abuse.

    Load More Comments
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