Amy Deanna is CoverGirl's first-ever model with vitiligo, and she says it's a huge move toward making the beauty industry more welcoming. Her commercial launched as part of CoverGirl's #IAmWhatIMakeUp campaign, which the company said on Twitter 'celebrates the power to be who you are and who you want to be.' In the video, Deanna asks, 'Why try to blend in when you can choose to stand out?' as she applies CoverGirl's truBlend foundation in two different shades.
'Representation is important,' Deanna said in an interview with People. 'Inclusivity is important—not just for people of different backgrounds and ethnicities, but also people of all sizes. That's why I was so excited to partner with CoverGirl on this project. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, colours, etc. Let's face it, together we are a mosaic—that in itself is beautiful. We should celebrate that.'
The American Academy of Dermatology defines vitiligo as a disease that causes the skin to lose its natural colour and develop patches that are much lighter in colour. Celebrities like TV host Terrence J, model Winnie Harlow, and the late Michel Jackson have been open about their struggles with the disease.
'Vitiligo awareness is something that is very important to me. Being given a platform to do so means so much,' Deanna told People. 'I welcome all appropriate questions about vitiligo. At the end of the day I am just like everyone else, I just happen to have spots. It's a part of my identity, but it doesn't define who I am.'
But despite certain stars using their platforms to raise awareness, Deanna told People that their is room for more diversity and new role models.
'I believe that inclusiveness will challenge unrealistic beauty standards within the beauty industry and in humanity,' she said. 'I remember seeing Queen Latifah on TV as a CoverGirl when I was young. That was so inspiring. I can't express how excited I am to say, I too have had the opportunity to work with CoverGirl.'
