On a daily basis, intriguing stories from around the world are proving that no one has any excuse not to excel. Iomikoe Johnson, a 38-year-old woman with a skin condition called Vitiligo, has joined the league of women proving one can be anything despite all odds.
The lady who is a mother of four children is based in Louisiana, USA. Right from when she was young, she had always been taunted by neighbours on a racial premise. These racists taunts continued up till when she was 25.
At age 25, Iomikoe began to see symptoms of Vitiligo. The condition which causes the skin to lose its pigment developed under her armpits. Then white patches began to come all over her face in small spatters. Later on, it expanded and grew wider.
Despite this challenge which has only grow 'wider' over time, Iomikoe has served as an inspiration to people around the world. The lady who calls herself a Vitiligo goddess is an established model, writer, actress and entrepreneur.
Although she has been called several derogatory names by familiar and unfamiliar people, Iomikoe has chosen to look past all her critics. She has particularly been referred to as a 'dalmatian' who is neither white nor black.
In spite of all these, this inspiring lady has gone on to help other children confronting the same challenge as she is. Like American supermodel Winnie Harlow, Iomikoe is becoming an embodiment of a practical model to the kids she mentors.
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Even more, the beautiful and bold lady took to recently publishing a book titled The Spotted Girl Who Empowered the World. This book is set to help other girls who has skin conditions confront challenges they face in their school and environment.
About the book, she had this to say: "Some of the comments I have received have been flat out disrespectful; people have called me a cow, a dalmatian and they have made racist jokes saying that because I am turning white, my credit would be good now,' said Iomikoe.
"Others have made outrageous comments saying I'm not black and while I was out for Mardi Gras last year a man call me a spotted N-word whilst I was out with my grandson, children and cousin.
"I am inspiring others who look like me, who are different like me to love the skin they're in no matter what stupid people have to say and I thought about the younger generation who have vitiligo because you can get vitiligo regardless of age, race or gender, at any time of your life.
"I could only imagine if those words hurt me as an adult, how they would hurt a child or teenager but thank god I'm secure in who I am and I'm confident in who I am and I have a support system who have built me up to know my worth but not every person has that. So I wrote a book, it talks about a young girl who got vitiligo in her freshman year of going to high school.
"The story is about a young girl who not only has to deal with that but she now has to face the fact that she has vitiligo and there is no cure but she also has to deal with the fact that she's a teenager and young woman living in a society that defines the standard of beauty by having the perfect body.
"When I first started my journey, I didn't have anyone to relate to except for Winnie Harlow and she's a supermodel, [so] I want to help them heal. I want to teach them to accept that they are different and just because they're different doesn't mean they're not beautiful, different is beautiful.
"I want to help them find the beauty within themselves and help them find the healing within themselves, I want to teach them to acknowledge, accept and then heal and that they can do anything they set their minds to and that their true power lies within."
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A discussion about Iomikoe cannot exactly be complete without reference to her family. Vitiligo or not, this 38-year-old has a wonderful, large family. She is a mother to four children and a grandmother to three more. Two of her daughters, Shianna, 21, and Amaya, 19, have both started modeling.
Even more, Iomikoe's husband and other family members have been very supportive. Not only does her husband love her so much, he also expresses his love to her in several many ways. For the Vitiligo goddess, although it did not seem like that at first, she had come to realise that her condition was a gift that had blessed her in so many ways.
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In a very long chat with Daily Mail, she poured out her mind regarding her struggles, victories and hope for others in her condition.
Read her words below:
"Vitiligo is not a curse, it's a gift to show society that no one race is better than the other and that God made everything beautiful. 'The freaking internet is a curse and a gift, a lot of actresses' and musicians' and models' photos are Photoshopped and they're giving a false sense of what the normal human body looks like, so these younger girls are wanting to look like them and that isn't even realistic because they don't even look like that in real life.
"There are all these makeup blogs and YouTube bloggers that are showing girls how to put on makeup but they're piling it on. Makeup is supposed to enhance your beauty not make you look like a whole different person, what's wrong with natural beauty?'
"They [family] have been so amazing. They're so proud of me and tell me every time I accomplish something. My mom has some of my modeling pictures up in her home and she brags every chance she gets. My daughters have followed in my footsteps and are modeling as well which makes me so proud. It makes my heart smile to see them follow in my footsteps.
"I tell them both all the time, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. They tell me; 'if you can do it mom, so can we' and they're so beautiful on the inside and out with beautiful hearts I teach them to set examples for others. I inspired them to follow their dreams and walk into their purpose.
"It's better to release your emotions than bottle them in, once you release your fears, you can face your truth and get the help you may need. Help from family, friends, counselors, teachers and maybe even coaches, whatever is best for you, and then you can begin your healing.'
"I want people to know that they are painted with a purpose and that beauty starts from within, you may face obstacles along your journey to self-confidence and self-love but it's your journey, take your time. Don't allow people to place their fears on to you, find your peace within you and your family or whoever you seek comfort in. The key to your healing is to acknowledge and heal.
"Once you've reached that place, lend a helping hand and a helping heart to someone else that might be struggling and continue to spread the love and healing."
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