By Shivani, Co-Founder of Evermore
Everything was fine until I turned 11. That’s when the first white spot appeared on my leg - small, unnoticed, dismissed as a scar. Over time, more spots emerged, spreading to my other leg and eventually my right eye. That’s when people started talking.
This was 2001-2002, and vitiligo was barely understood. My parents and I scrambled for answers - consulting doctors and trying every treatment imaginable. But the hardest part wasn’t the spots; it was witnessing the pressure on my parents. Relatives called it "karma," especially since I was a girl. "Marriage will be difficult," they’d say.
As a child, I didn’t grasp the weight of it all. When I looked in the mirror, I barely noticed my spots. They were just…me. But society noticed.
As I grew older, the stares became harder to ignore. I stopped wearing the clothes I loved, covered up constantly, and felt the weight of whispered questions. "Is it contagious?" Friends kept their distance; even teachers hesitated. Marriage proposals came with caveats: "You have a flaw, so compromise."
My confidence crumbled. I questioned my worth - not just because of my skin, but my intellect, and my abilities. I avoided sports to hide in changing rooms, wore leggings under my school uniform, and watched my academic performance dip. For years, I felt like an outlier.
Then, things shifted.
In high school, I found real friends - people who saw me, not just my skin. Later, moving to Singapore in 2011 changed everything. Strangers became family, encouraging me to wear what I wanted, speak freely, and embrace life unapologetically. For the first time, I felt beautiful-not despite my skin, but with it.
Returning to India (Hyderabad), I met the same warmth - people who’d stop me just to say, "You’re pretty." Friends and cousins reminded me of the truth - they knew people with vitiligo thriving in careers, loved by amazing partners. "You deserve better," they’d say. And they were right.
Even today, strangers stare. But now, I stare back - not with anger, but with a willingness to answer their curiosity. I realized: that insecurity comes from the unknown. Everyone has their version - stretch marks, hair fall, scars. What matters is how we carry them. I stopped asking, “Why me?” and thought instead: Maybe I was chosen because I could handle it.
Today, I’m proud to co-found a skincare brand with my brother - not one that promises "perfection," but one that celebrates "choice". Whether you cover up or go bare - it’s yours to own.
What I learned:
- Wear your skin like your favorite outfit.
- Smile. Compliment freely.
- Because when you radiate confidence, your "flaws" become invisible - or better yet, they become your strength.
This brand is my heart. A space for realness, growth, and the freedom to define beauty your way.