LOCAL CELEBS WITH ALBINISM WHO ARE BLAZING THE TRAIL

In light of International Albinism Awareness Day on 13 June, we're shining the spotlight on some of Mzansi's favourite celebrities with albinism who are doing incredible things.

---

Note: There is debate around the term 'albino' and, in the albinism community, opinions on the use of the word vary. While some find it derogatory, others feel it is a neutral term or has empowering connotations.

Albinism is defined by a malproduction of melanin, the pigment in our skin, eyes, nails and hair. When speaking about albinism, it's best to refer to someone as 'a person with albinism' as opposed to an 'albino', since labelling them ‘albino' is seen as reducing or defining them to nothing more than their condition.

Albinism Awareness Day occurs in June, and the entire month of September is commemorated at Albinism awareness month. But for these celebrities with albinism, everyday is a chance to raise awareness and educate others about the condition.

Thando Hopa
Born in 1989 in Sebokeng, Gauteng, Thando Hopa is a lawyer, actress, poet, international model and an advocate for diversity. Thando is the first South African and first model with albinism to appear on the cover of Vogue Portugal. In 2018, she was listed as one of BBC's Top 100 most Influential and inspiring women from around the world.

In a talk at last year’s TEDxUniversityOfSouthAfrica called A Blueprint With No Reference, Thando spoke of her struggles with living as a person with albinism and juggling her work as a marketing manager while pursuing a career in modelling.

Last year she partnered with Miss Wheelchair World First Princess titleholder and model Lebohang Monyatsi to launch a new project called African Fashion Legacy (AFL), a concept that explores the history of transcontinental African fabrics, which form part of African people’s cultures.

Sanele Junior Xaba
Sanele Junior Xaba, South Africa's first international male model with albinism, is a trailblazer on the men's fashion scene, having modelled for Adidas Originals and appearing in GQ magazine. In March this year, he also adorned TFGmedia’s own ClubX magazine cover. The 29-year-old Durbanite was scouted while attending the Duban July when he was 15 and later graced the runway at Amsterdam Fashion Week.

Aside from modelling, Sanele is passionate about activism. Now living in Amsterdam, he co-founded the Dutch NGO Inside the Same to raise awareness about albinism. The NGO distributes sunscreen to children with albinism in Tanzania, where discrimination against people with albinism is especially rife.

Refilwe Modiselle
Refilwe 'Vanillablaq' Modiselle (29) who hails from Rockville, Soweto, started her career at the tender age of 13 when she modelled for Y! magazine. In 2012 she was approached by advertising agency Black River FC to be the face of female fashion retailer LEGiT’s summer fashion campaign. This lead to print and online campaigns and a TV commercial.

An actress and model, she's appeared in local series Hush, award-winning international short film White Gold and most recently the Netflix South Africa thriller Dam. Refilwe also has a serious passion for fashion – just last year she bagged the Most Stylish Changemaker at the South African Style Awards.

Michelle Mosalakae
A Rhodes University alumnus, 29-year-old Michelle Mosalakae is an accomplished writer, actor and theatre director from Pretoria. She developed her love for acting at an early age and went on to garner a Naledi Theatre Award for Best Lead Performance in a Play for her work in Shoes & Coups, directed and written by Palesa Mazamisa.

Most recently she made her film debut as Rachel Paige in the Netflix South Africa series Silverton Siege, an action thriller inspired by the true story of a trio of anti-apartheid freedom fighters who end up in a tense bank hostage situation. She is currently a brand ambassador for Savanna, and has also worked with top brands including Burger King and Fenty Beauty.