Beauty blogger offends with vitiligo makeup look

The fashion and beauty industry has been making strides to become more inclusive of late by turning the spotlight on people who defy the stereotypical standard of beauty.

Earlier this year, Marc Jacobs unveiled its latest campaign featuring a stunning model with the skin condition vitiligo, to a collective round of internet applause. And in February, Gap Kids featured a child model with the condition in ads posted in store windows.

Model Winnie Harlow, who also has the condition, has been making huge strides on the catwalk after being discovered on America’s Next Top Model. Though Harlow didn’t win the competition, she’s gone on to pose, unretouched, for brands including Desigual and Diesel.

But despite the fact that vitiligo and other differences are being embraced, there are still times when people don’t quite get things right when it comes to pushing for diversity. And a beauty blogger who created a vitiligo makeup look is getting called out as being one of those times.

Golgi Apparatus, aka Golgiknowsbest on Instagram, is known for out-of-the-ordinary makeup looks. Earlier this week, the makeup artist posted a look that had white patches around the eyes and mouth and was quickly called out for trying to mimic people who have vitiligo.

Unsurprisingly, the look quickly went viral and social media was not impressed. Some people went online to express their outrage and explain that skin conditions are not beauty trend.

View photos

More

“See what we’re NOT gonna do here is mimic skin conditions and make them a makeup trend,” one user wrote on Twitter alongside a screenshot of the look.

Others shared their own experiences of living with vitiligo, including the bullying they or their loved ones with the condition, had faced.

“This makes me LIVID. My beautiful cousin has vitiligo and was severely bullied her whole life over this condition. She herself is a work of art. This is not art,” one user commented.

“So does mine […] This has me boiling,” another added.

Following the backlash, Golgi deleted the photo and made a statement apologizing for any offense caused. The blogger went on to explain that the look wasn’t meant to reflect vitiligo and was actually inspired by drag queen Valentina.

Golgi wrote: “I didn’t expect for this to get NEARLY as much attention as it did, so I was shocked when I came home from work to see so much fighting and negativity in the comments. I in NO WAY intended for this to represent vitiligo, and I sincerely apologize that it offended so may people. I do admit I could’ve clarified that a bit more, but we all learn from our mistakes!”

Do you believe this makeup look is offensive? Is Golgi Apparatus’s apology enough? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Bride who developed vitiligo before her wedding: ‘I had to embrace it’
• Woman with vitiligo on self-love: ‘You have to trick out your flaws’
• This Winnie Harlow-inspired doll with vitiligo is taking over social media

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.