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Elisabeth Van Aalderen had a lot going for her. After getting her diploma from the Utrecht School of Arts, she applied to the photography department of the Fotovakschool in Amsterdam. Since then, she has worked in the fashion industry as a stylist and art director but eventually quit her job to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional photographer. However, about 8 years ago, when she was 25, something came up that tried to slow Elisabeth down. Vitiligo. A skin condition in which a lack of melanin leads to developing white patches on the skin.

"I started to get tiny white spots on my left hand," Elisabeth told Bored Panda. "After a few weeks, the small spots turned into one bigger spot. That’s when it all started. Today, 60% of my skin is covered in vitiligo."

Most people who live with this skin condition have these patches on multiple areas of their bodies.

More info: elisabethva.com | Instagram

#1

Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

"She couldn’t wear her spots with more pride. Such an inspiring woman"

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Rachel Neye
Community Member
6 years ago

What a pretty woman!

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    #2

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "I feel so incredibly honored to photograph Sharista and just cant get over how beautiful she is, inside and out. Such a kind soul and a fearless power woman. She inspires so many out there with"

    elisabethva Report

    Zaerhin Sk
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    this is incredible! I would die to be able to take pictures like this!

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    #3

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Nathan Jones
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    You're still unbelievably beautiful, don't ever let anybody tell you that you aren't.

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    #4

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Today I photographed Emely for the vitiligo project. She is such a stunning and confident Cape Verdean woman!"

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    Pineapple
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Love the tattoo

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    #5

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Tambot
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Gorgeous woman. LOVE her arm tattoo

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    #6

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Michał Jastrzębski
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    that hair <3

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    #7

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "I had the privilege to photograph my 3rd subject of the vitiligo project Marie Lenander. I feel so honored she traveled to Amsterdam to take part of this. This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and its esthetic.


    For me it was also very special to get up close and personal with someone who had the same struggles as me, and as many young woman all over the world who are trying to fit in. Why should you even want to fit in, if you were born to be unique?"

    elisabethva Report

    Zaerhin Sk
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I relise that there are different vitiligo shades

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    #8

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    A B C
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Interesting how that strain of hair in the middle list all its coloration as well

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    #9

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "She couldn’t wear her spots with more pride. Such an inspiring woman"

    elisabethva Report

    Eva Zaqqum
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Unbelievable condition :) beautiful picture.

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    #10

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Beautiful Padminie Gajadhar such a gracious and powerful woman. I am so grateful she let me take her picture"

    elisabethva Report

    Dorothy Parker
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Not to be irreverent or disrespectful, but her original color skin on her checks look like they're intentional markings of maps. She's beautiful and unique, as are each of these models, in their own way

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    #11

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "When coffee compliments your skin."

    elisabethva Report

    Rachel Neye
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Beautiful comparison

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    #12

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Cindy Snow
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    She's pretty and I love her hair

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    #13

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    The contrast is strikingly beautiful

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    #14

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Miłka Chromińska
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    She looks like she's in the middle of a ballet

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    #15

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Sometimes you meet people who fill your hart with joy. Anna flew in from Budapest to join the shades of pale series. Our vitiligo is so similar, it’s insane. She could be my younger beautiful sister. Thanks Anna for traveling to Amsterdam and making a new friend"

    elisabethva Report

    Debbie A Neville
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Beautiful.

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    #16

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Last week I photographed my 5th subject: Gaby. I feel so honored she took part of this, although she was a little bit nervous. We talked about how to cope with the struggle to accept something you can’t control. Vitiligo can take over our skin, but can’t take over our pride and awesomeness! That’s what’s Gaby all about: an awesome freakin’ woman"

    elisabethva Report

    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Beautiful you can see her power love this one

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    #17

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Beautiful Emilie in front of my lens. I found here on Instagram, totally embracing her vitiligo body. It moved me. When you both have the same struggles and overcome the same fears, it immediately creates a bond. Vitiligo is such a powerful thing; it makes you stand out, it forces you to embrace your unique beauty. Let’s all celebrate that. —- This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and its esthetic"

    elisabethva Report

    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Nice 💖

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    #18

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Spastic Fish
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Katniss!

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    #19

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "I had the privilege to photograph my first subject of the vitiligo project Natalie. I feel so honored she traveled to Amsterdam to take part of this. This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and it's esthetic.


    For me it was also very special to get up close and personal with someone who had the same struggles as me, and as many young woman all over the world who are trying to fit in.
    Why should you even want to fit in, if you were born to be unique?"

    elisabethva Report

    Magpie
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    "...Why should you even want to fit in, if you were born to be unique? " I love that sentence and all the text.

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    #20

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Such a strong woman. Thank you Anna to take your picture"

    elisabethva Report

    @the_bookworm
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    so beautiful. Especially in black and white.

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    #21

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Beautiful Padminie Gajadhar such a gracious and powerful woman. I am so grateful she let me take her picture"

    elisabethva Report

    Koutha Thin Buak
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    true beauty

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    #22

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Sometimes you meet people who fill your hart with joy. Anna flew in from Budapest to join the shades of pale series. Our vitiligo is so similar, it’s insane. She could be my younger beautiful sister. Thanks Anna for traveling to Amsterdam and making a new friend"

    elisabethva Report

    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Wow🌸

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    #23

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "I had the privilege to photograph my 6th subject of the vitiligo project Emilie. I feel so honored she traveled to Amsterdam to take part of this. This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and its esthetic"

    elisabethva Report

    Meechelle Reha
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Pretty!!

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    #24

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Beautiful Sara. A biology student with a passion for rowing. I feel so honored she take part of this"

    elisabethva Report

    Meechelle Reha
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Pretty!!

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    #25

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    elisabethva Report

    Donna Leske
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Like a jewel, perfectly placed.

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    #26

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Natural shadowing

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    #27

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    elisabethva Report

    Meechelle Reha
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Pretty!!

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    #28

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Let me start by saying I love my vitiligo skin, and love all the unique girls I had in front of my camera, celebrating their spots. But it doesn’t mean we never struggle.
    For me this time of year is when I struggle the most. It is getting warmer, and we expose our skin more on the outside world. I do feel confident in my own skin, but vitiligo is often a life-changing condition that turns your world upside down."

    elisabethva Report

    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Tiny spotted power 🎈

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    #29

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "My favorite girl from Paris. Emilie Bouchet"

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    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Foot prints of life 🐾

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    #30

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Beautiful Maria flew in, all the way from Colorado. Vitiligo to her is “letting go”. Literally we are saying goodbye to our melatonin, but in the bigger sense we are breaking free from our perception of beauty.
    This project is to help break the boundaries and encourage others to be their most authentic selves. Beauty can be whatever you want it to be"

    elisabethva Report

    Rachel Cervoni
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I can do it

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    #31

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Beautiful Emilie. Vitiligo is such a powerful thing; it makes you stand out, it forces you to embrace your unique beauty. Let’s all celebrate that. —- This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and its esthetic"

    elisabethva Report

    Carlisa Carter Jacobs
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Beautiful 🌸

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    #32

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    John Adams
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I have the same condition I’m 65, diagnosed at 33. I learned to live with and have determined that these people with vitiligo are special, only 1% of the world has it so I believe we are the true minority in the world, hence I have name us as vigaliganese a new race of humans

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    #33

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

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    Anoyint
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    It's interesting how some of the discoloration is in a freckle pattern, while for others it's in big, contrasting blotches.

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    #34

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Some more output of my second subject of the vitiligo project Indy. I feel so honored she traveled to Amsterdam to take part of this. This project is all about body positivity and to celebrate our uniqueness and embracing the vitiligo body and it's esthetic."

    elisabethva Report

    Karen Trotier
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    🌺

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    #35

    Vitiligo-Beauty-Photography-Elisabeth-Van-Aalderen

    "Yesterday the 2nd subject of the vitiligo project Indy Stokje visited me to get photographed by me. I feel so honored she traveled to Amsterdam to take part of this. It was such a fun and relaxed shoot, and it was so nice to get to know her. I was blown away by here confidence."

    elisabethva Report

    Jean Miller Lilly
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Thank you for this beautiful work. I am almost 55, and my vitiligo started when I was 27... it is not always easy staying confident.

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