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After Being Bullied For Vitiligo All Her Life, This Girl Now Turns Her Body Into Amazing Art
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.”
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
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
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
“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”
“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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What do you think ?
Amanda Panda 7 years ago
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!
Flora Polvado 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
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...
Another bored panda 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQwAVf_gtqT/?taken-by=radiantbambi&hl=ro
Load More Replies...
Nick Gisburne 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
Tattooing would be absolutely unwise because the vitiligo will continue to spread and the shapes WILL change.
Load More Replies...
Lu 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
heck yeah. high five for us man childs =) getting things done with a odd ball wacky attitude. Man Childs unite!!!
Load More Replies... 
TheReader19 7 years ago
Good for you girl, you be who you are and sod all of them who have s**t to say. Keep it real and raise yourself up!
Vanessa Saunders 7 years ago
Things happen for reasons. Congratulations to this wonderful artist for bringing inspiration and acceptance for others with this condition
Pedro Acevedo 3 months ago (edited)
Aliens are using their bodies to show us that there's life in other planets in the galaxy and those are the global maps drew on their bodies. Think about it...
Pedro Acevedo 3 months ago
Maybe, there's a possibility that aliens are using their bodies to send us messages of sign of life in other planets in our galaxy and those people have the maps of those planets. Think about it...
Gwen Anderson 7 years ago
lovely 💝 my daughter was diagnosed with vit when she was 2 (12 now) and i always show her these kind of things. ive nvr rly found other kids a problem they usually ask questions about it and then leave it. it parents that can be the worst, the comments ive had about over the years 😡 but its like ive told my daughter from day one. having vitiligo does not make you ugly, it makes you more uniquely beautiful. love what this girl has done
Gautam Thakur 7 years ago
Ahh. Isn't she beautiful. God is always unique when he creates something. She is amazingly beautiful and gorgeous the way she Is.
Gautam Thakur 7 years ago
She looks perfect the way she is. Beautiful enough to reveal that the God's creation is always unique and gorgeous.
Pascal Desjardins 7 years ago
like if you are really not ashamed by it then you would show your face the way it is and she does not with other words she is still ashamed of it. which kinda ruins the ideal about this operation that she is trying to do.
Pascal Desjardins 7 years ago
as to comment to the man of 51. some of us with the condition had no such look at young age. im glad i am goodlooking net to and it has not touched my face yet. its horrible as a kid or teenager since other kids dont understand it and make fun o it. as for her wearing to much make up. it could be that she has it on her face to which makes her stand she is taking now kinda not here or there but still. i agree it would be better without the make up vertilligo or not. i have lived my lvie with it and have seen animals and people with the skin condition and i can say for myself its hard to accept it on your own body. but everytime i see others with it i think its art. if you look closley to it you can see a rare beauty in it. . like i said adults can see it but growing up with is horrible you self esteem can be ruined. now at a older age i see people accept it and treat you normal by it.
Catharina Geerts 7 years ago
That was a great idea, it looks fantastic like this! True body art.
Jessica Hepler 7 years ago
I have it to it runs in my family I have problems with my body but tbh vitiligo isn't one
Jazmyn B (Jaz) 7 years ago
Amazing! The condition isn't life-threatening or anything so she did well to make it the best experience has possible. And, I mean, wow! Look how dark her original skin color is compared to the white one! It's quite amazing, to see how dark you look when you have some white skin, normally it wouldn't look anything like that. Good job, I admire this girl for the courage. It all started when she forced herself to wear clothes that revealed her condition...
Frankie Duke 7 years ago
These stories just give me hope. They are truely wonderful and I know they empower people all over the world.
Frankie Duke 7 years ago
These stories are wonderful they give me hope and I know they empower people everywhere.
Brittany Crowder 7 years ago
Love this! This girl is beautiful without any of the art/make-up but what she's doing with her condition, turning it into art and raising awareness, creating acceptance is amazing. Such a great woman!
Betty Morgan Singer 7 years ago
You are lovely. You go girl, and you are so creative. If I were your Grandma I would be so proud of you.
Levon Snyder 7 years ago
ppl bully for the stupidest things. poor girl has a skin thing going on so I'm going to go make her feel bad about it because she should suffer for it. is that what goes on in the minds of these bullies? I don't get it. I myself have been bullied or many a thing. very very few ever made me feel bad and the ones that did, looking at it now were so stupid they make me laugh. but this poor girl. to have this and face bullies over it had to be extra hard. glad she made it thru it and found a cool way to make something of it. it looks really cool. you go you =)
Eppy Anwarsyam 7 years ago
My aunty got this viriligo long time ago.. now white skin covered all her body and face and she looks like a white lady or western lady .. very pretty .. :-)
Bobbi Newell 7 years ago
I don't know what flash of inspiration led her to outline her various patches, but I'm very glad she did, since it led her to ultimately accept herself as she is. Her art is as beautiful and unique as she is!
Brigitte 7 years ago
Omg, I actually looked at this site. "Take 5 teaspoons of turmeric powder and mix in 250 ml of mustard oil and apply on the white patches of skin, twice a day." Are you serious?
Load More Replies...
darknessIsMyOutfit 7 years ago
Unless you tried it yourself and can physically show it works it's probably just another fake miracle cure that doesn't do anything but let you down.
Load More Replies... Amanda Panda 7 years ago
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!
Flora Polvado 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
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... Another bored panda 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQwAVf_gtqT/?taken-by=radiantbambi&hl=ro
Load More Replies... Nick Gisburne 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
Tattooing would be absolutely unwise because the vitiligo will continue to spread and the shapes WILL change.
Load More Replies... Lu 7 years ago
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 7 years ago
heck yeah. high five for us man childs =) getting things done with a odd ball wacky attitude. Man Childs unite!!!
Load More Replies... TheReader19 7 years ago
Good for you girl, you be who you are and sod all of them who have s**t to say. Keep it real and raise yourself up!
Vanessa Saunders 7 years ago
Things happen for reasons. Congratulations to this wonderful artist for bringing inspiration and acceptance for others with this condition
Pedro Acevedo 3 months ago (edited)
Aliens are using their bodies to show us that there's life in other planets in the galaxy and those are the global maps drew on their bodies. Think about it...
Pedro Acevedo 3 months ago
Maybe, there's a possibility that aliens are using their bodies to send us messages of sign of life in other planets in our galaxy and those people have the maps of those planets. Think about it...
Gwen Anderson 7 years ago
lovely 💝 my daughter was diagnosed with vit when she was 2 (12 now) and i always show her these kind of things. ive nvr rly found other kids a problem they usually ask questions about it and then leave it. it parents that can be the worst, the comments ive had about over the years 😡 but its like ive told my daughter from day one. having vitiligo does not make you ugly, it makes you more uniquely beautiful. love what this girl has done
Gautam Thakur 7 years ago
Ahh. Isn't she beautiful. God is always unique when he creates something. She is amazingly beautiful and gorgeous the way she Is.
Gautam Thakur 7 years ago
She looks perfect the way she is. Beautiful enough to reveal that the God's creation is always unique and gorgeous.
Pascal Desjardins 7 years ago
like if you are really not ashamed by it then you would show your face the way it is and she does not with other words she is still ashamed of it. which kinda ruins the ideal about this operation that she is trying to do.
Pascal Desjardins 7 years ago
as to comment to the man of 51. some of us with the condition had no such look at young age. im glad i am goodlooking net to and it has not touched my face yet. its horrible as a kid or teenager since other kids dont understand it and make fun o it. as for her wearing to much make up. it could be that she has it on her face to which makes her stand she is taking now kinda not here or there but still. i agree it would be better without the make up vertilligo or not. i have lived my lvie with it and have seen animals and people with the skin condition and i can say for myself its hard to accept it on your own body. but everytime i see others with it i think its art. if you look closley to it you can see a rare beauty in it. . like i said adults can see it but growing up with is horrible you self esteem can be ruined. now at a older age i see people accept it and treat you normal by it.
Catharina Geerts 7 years ago
That was a great idea, it looks fantastic like this! True body art.
Jessica Hepler 7 years ago
I have it to it runs in my family I have problems with my body but tbh vitiligo isn't one
Jazmyn B (Jaz) 7 years ago
Amazing! The condition isn't life-threatening or anything so she did well to make it the best experience has possible. And, I mean, wow! Look how dark her original skin color is compared to the white one! It's quite amazing, to see how dark you look when you have some white skin, normally it wouldn't look anything like that. Good job, I admire this girl for the courage. It all started when she forced herself to wear clothes that revealed her condition...
Frankie Duke 7 years ago
These stories just give me hope. They are truely wonderful and I know they empower people all over the world.
Frankie Duke 7 years ago
These stories are wonderful they give me hope and I know they empower people everywhere.
Brittany Crowder 7 years ago
Love this! This girl is beautiful without any of the art/make-up but what she's doing with her condition, turning it into art and raising awareness, creating acceptance is amazing. Such a great woman!
Betty Morgan Singer 7 years ago
You are lovely. You go girl, and you are so creative. If I were your Grandma I would be so proud of you.
Levon Snyder 7 years ago
ppl bully for the stupidest things. poor girl has a skin thing going on so I'm going to go make her feel bad about it because she should suffer for it. is that what goes on in the minds of these bullies? I don't get it. I myself have been bullied or many a thing. very very few ever made me feel bad and the ones that did, looking at it now were so stupid they make me laugh. but this poor girl. to have this and face bullies over it had to be extra hard. glad she made it thru it and found a cool way to make something of it. it looks really cool. you go you =)
Eppy Anwarsyam 7 years ago
My aunty got this viriligo long time ago.. now white skin covered all her body and face and she looks like a white lady or western lady .. very pretty .. :-)
Bobbi Newell 7 years ago
I don't know what flash of inspiration led her to outline her various patches, but I'm very glad she did, since it led her to ultimately accept herself as she is. Her art is as beautiful and unique as she is!
Brigitte 7 years ago
Omg, I actually looked at this site. "Take 5 teaspoons of turmeric powder and mix in 250 ml of mustard oil and apply on the white patches of skin, twice a day." Are you serious?
Load More Replies... darknessIsMyOutfit 7 years ago
Unless you tried it yourself and can physically show it works it's probably just another fake miracle cure that doesn't do anything but let you down.
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