Vitiligo and Modelling: Q&A with Love In the Flesh Winner Chibz

NOVA meets Love in the Flesh winner, Chibz, 24, to talk about how vitiligo has affected his journey into modelling, influencing and personal training.

PHOTOGRAPHY - SIMONA SERMONT

NOVA: Tell us, when did you first notice your vitiligo?

CHIBZ: It was a small dot on my face, the first person to notice was my friend. We were in art class, so he thought it was a felt-tip on my eye. I went and tried to wash it and nothing came off, so I thought ‘let me leave it, maybe it's a scab on my eye’. I just picked it off. It'll heal and then go back to normal. After a while, it just started to grow bigger and bigger, then it went from one eye to the other eye. Then I started noticing it more. I remember when I went to PE, one of my friends said ‘ay bro, you have it on your arm and your back you know?’ and I said ‘swear?’. I started seeing it in more and more places. That's what was overwhelming at first, because I was a very shy person at the time, I didn't really like crowds or people staring at me. So to go from that to knowing that I'm going to be stared at wherever I go now – it was a bit of a madting. I was one of those people who’d always have my hood up. But it's my eyes, I can't really hide even if my hoods up at its tightest, you'll still see it.

NOVA: Do you think your vitiligo has changed the way people see you?

CHIBZ: I think when someone sees me for the first time they are drawn to my vitiligo straight away, then it takes them like a couple minutes to process that my nose is there as well. I see people on road with vitiligo. I see it on their hands and in other places. You know, sometimes we give each other the nod of respect, like ‘I've got it too’. Then we just kind of carry on, that's why it's understandable. Especially when I'm outside, if I feel someone's staring at me, I give them ten seconds then I'll stare back at them. Everyone has something; if you see someone wearing crazy jeans you’re going to start looking.

NOVA: Has it affected the people around you?

CHIBZ: When I met my girlfriend, we were on holiday at the time. I told her when we get back to England and we’re walking around just watch. She’s said she used to get angry because when we’re out, people stare so much and she's always thinking what are they staring at . You think that in the beginning, but it took me about three or four years to get to a point when I could just ignore it. There've been times when I've been with my mum and then there was someone like ‘oh my God, you're hitting your child too much. His lips have turned pink, his eyes have turned pink, you need to stop abusing him’ and my mum started crying.

Those kinds of times when I've got vex. That hit me emotionally. There was another time when me and my mum went to Stratford. These two African aunties came round a corner, screamed and started running away. I'm not sure if they were watching Nollywood the night before or thought I was the juju man or something like that, a witch doctor look-alike, but they ran like they've never seen somebody like me before in their lives. You have tough times, so when it comes to just regular people staring, it doesn't bother me.

NOVA: Has your vitiligo helped to kickstart your modelling career?

CHIBZ: From when I was 18 or so, people have always said to me ‘you have a unique look’ so they put a lot of pressure on me. But I was like ‘bro everyone’s telling me I should model, but no modelling people shout me’. I didn't even know how you became a model before Instagram. Things only started happening last year. Modelling is kind of convenient. I suppose you take a couple pictures and then you get paid a very nice amount. It’s something that I use to pursue other things I actually want to do. In terms of Instagram influencing, I find it easy because it’s just wearing my own clothes and people are drawn to what I'm wearing. But modelling is very nerve wracking.

NOVA: What would you tell yourself when you were on the start of this journey?

CHIBZ: No one really cares like that. Don't sweat yourself. Just keep on doing the same thing that you're doing. Those things are going to help you make friends. I mean, I already had friends, but in the future. When it comes to dating and talking to girls, don't overthink things. You're going to go to places. People will have a look and they'll go back to doing what they're doing and it doesn't mean you stop doing it, you shouldn't be afraid to go outside. Should you have your hood up in 40 degree weather, sweating underneath your jacket, giving yourself a nosebleed, just because you're scared of what people are going to say? People will be ignorant but in the same way people will be understanding and they'll be there for you.