'This is her:' Lorain girl models to raise awareness for vitiligo

LORAIN — At just 7 years old, Kalani Pickens already has national modeling experience. The Horizon Science Academy second grader was part of a photo shoot earlier this month, giving her a chance to wear her favorite color — pink — and pose in front of the camera to boost her confidence. Once the advertising campaign comes out early next year, Kalani not only will be helping sell products for a business she cannot name publicly, but she also will bring awareness to vitiligo. The skin disorder occurs in about 1 percent of the population, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It causes the skin to lose its pigmentation, creating smooth white areas, for people of all races. For Kalani, it started on her fingers, said her mother, Barbara Pickens. She was diagnosed at 2 as it spread to her hands, face, knees and ankles. "To be honest I didn't know what it was called. My grandmother had it and we're from Hungary and they never told me what it was — I just saw her skin was different, my aunt's skin was different and that's just what it was," Barbara Pickens said. "When she got it, I looked up 'Michael Jackson disease' because everybody said he had the white splotches and that's how I saw it's called vitiligo. I thought it was scabs like around her fingers, healing. But then she got like on the corner of her eyes and her mouth and stuff and now she has her little superhero mask." That superhero mask has given her a chance to travel to Milwaukee and New Orleans for Litty Ligo conventions, meeting children and adults with the disorder. Founded in Boston in 2017 by Sharon King, Litty Ligo provides networking and outreach opportunities for individuals with vitiligo and albinism. Barbara Pickens said once Kalani was diagnosed, she looked up vitiligo groups on Facebook and posted her picture in one. From there, King messaged her and asked if Kalani would be in "Mask Off," a runway show for individuals with vitiligo and albinism, but the opportunity was cut short because of COVID-19 restrictions. As travel restrictions were lifted, Kalani and her parents, Barbara and Melvin Pickens, traveled to meetups in Wisconsin and Louisiana. On a whim, Barbara Pickens sent her picture to Pro Models Talent Management, asking if they'd like her as a client — hence her landing the campaign coming out in January. "Everybody's just so supportive, like we've never met these people … and we're just like family. Just because of everybody having vitiligo," Barbara Pickens said. "They're just amazing people to be around." Melvin Pickens added, "I feel like we've known them for years." The couple are thankful her classmates at Horizon have been understanding, and Barbara Pickens plans to start a Litty Ligo Ohio group in the spring. "I don't think she notices or pays attention; I don't think she cares," Barbara Pickens said. "'This is just me, this is who I am and how I am.'" Her father agreed. "Sometimes, I don't even notice when she gets new spots, I'm so used to it. This is her." For more information, or to connect with others with vitiligo visit littyligo.com or facebook.com/littyligo. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.