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Christelle Mengue's story is not defined by her albinism. However, it was the urgency to dismantle the myths surrounding her skin condition that led her to start a career as a model. Born in Cameroon, Mengue moved to Paris at the age of five because her parents feared for her safety in her home country. Even so, it took her a long time to feel integrated in the French capital, as her rejection was not only from others: Christelle Mengue rejected herself. It wasn't until she was 23 that she was able to assume her identity as an albino for the first time and, since then, she has dedicated her career to promoting inclusion and diversity in beauty. In an interview with Vogue Portugal, the model talks about how love played a crucial role in her journey of self-acceptance.

You usually say that you want to share your story because, when you were growing up, you did not have a role model. So, what does it mean to you to be on the pages of Vogue Portugal? I believe my life’s story is an important one because it started from a lack of representation which is one of the main reasons people with albinism are stigmatised and discriminated against, because they are only heard of in horrible stories or seen in movies. It makes us seem almost alien and far from human, something that has affected me mentally for years. The idea of being in Vogue now after these struggles feels like a dream come true! To be able to share my story and bring awareness to something so important as a young African woman with albinism, I can honestly say this is the biggest achievement so far in my modeling career.

Your story is also about self-acceptance. What would you say to people that are currently on the path towards accepting their unique traits? I would ask people to be kind and patient with themselves. This is a journey and it won't happen overnight. It took me more than 10 years to fully accept and embrace my differences. I used to hate my skin and hair colour and tried to find every way possible to fit in. I spent a big part of my youth dying my hair a darker colour and wearing darker foundations. It's been such a long and difficult road to get to the version of me you see now but trust me, it’s been worth every single struggle. Today I can proudly look in the mirror and say that there is nothing I would change about my physical appearance for anything in the world.

And especially to people with albinism, which message would you like to share? I would like to encourage people who look like me to reshape the narrative. You are not the stereotypes people have placed on you; you are not ONLY a person with albinism. Yes, it's a huge part of who you are but it is not ALL you are. I started discovering more about my identity by connecting with my roots back in Cameroon. I fell in love with my culture, and it helped me find my place as an individual in society.

Our December issue is all about love. In what ways do you show love, to you and to others, every single day? Self-care has had a major impact on my self-acceptance and self-love journey. I found that the best way to show love to myself was by replacing criticism and comparison to others with acceptance and appreciation of myself, but also by prioritising my skincare and sticking to my fitness routine so my body is taken care of, and I feel good physically. Mostly when it comes to the people I love, I try to always choose kindness no matter what while also showing up for them equally in their highest and lowest moments. I believe that is how you show love to others while also being the best person to yourself.

*Originally translated from the Love & Hope Issue, published December 2023. Full credits and stories in the print issue.