My grandmother bore the brunt of vitiligo stigmatization all her life.

My grandmother bore the brunt of vitiligo stigmatization all her life.

 Now—as one living with vitiligo—it's my duty to crush that stigma and raise a community of proud wearers of  "coats of many colors."

Growing up, I watched my grandmother shrink into silence when strangers stared, their curiosity laced with cruelty. She’d wear long sleeves even in hot weather - sweating heavily under the heavy clothing that covered not just her skin, but her spirit. She never spoke about it; not directly though. But in the way she’d quickly pull her sleeves down when she felt someone was looking too long, I understood she was feeling inferior.

She passed on when I was less than five and I forgot everything about her unusual patchy skin which - at that time - had no name. 

However, when I began developing the same patches in my late sixties, it felt like history was repeating itself. Initially I didn't link it up to my grandma until I visited the hospital and the doctor said that what I have is vitiligo. When he said that vitiligo is hereditary and asked if anybody in my family had a similar experience, my mind quickly went sixty years in reverse gear to my grandma's days. 

It then dawned on me that my grandmother's 'coat of many colors' had caught up with me, but far from shrinking into silence when strangers stared, something within me rebelled. I remembered the quiet strength in my grandmother’s eyes, the resilience in her careful steps. She walked through a world that never tried to understand her. I decided that my own world would, and must understand me. 

So I started by creating Vitiligo Support And Awareness Group: a movement that is growing and moving with all the speed and thrust of a freight train! 

A community of celebrities whose kaleidoscopic appearance is turning society green with envy! 

A people that celebrate their colors with pride - with paint, poetry, and parades! 

We post photos of our unfiltered skin on social media, sharing stories, facts, and encouragement.

We organize meetups, community groups and annual events. 

We invite dermatologists, artists, and storytellers to help us share our story and dispel the myth around vitiligo. 

We wear our skin like banners - soft, powerful reminders that beauty isn’t in uniformity but in the kaleidoscope of our experiences. And every time someone joins our circle and stands a little taller, I know my grandmother’s legacy lives on - not hidden, but shining boldly, coat of many colors and all.

However, I have this nagging fear at the back of my mind: fear that jealous people - like Joseph's brothers - might be scheming to sell us to the Ishmaelites. 

I pray strongly that they do not succeed because there is no prime ministerial vacancy in today's Egypt.