At just 12 years old, Ash Soto got news that would change her life forever—she had vitiligo, a condition that causes skin to lose its pigment, creating white patches. Kids can be cruel, and Ash learned this the hard way when a classmate asked, “Did you shower with bleach?”
At the time, those words stung. Ash felt embarrassed, ashamed, and desperately tried to cover her skin. Her teenage years became a battle to hide from judgment as vitiligo spread. She wore long sleeves. She avoided attention. But deep down, she knew this wasn’t how she wanted to live.
Fast forward to Ash in her late teens—stronger, bolder, and ready to face the world. One day, she looked at her skin differently. Instead of hiding it, she decided to embrace it. She picked up a black marker and traced the white patches, expecting little. What she discovered? Art. A masterpiece of patterns across her body that looked like a map of the world.
“I never realized how beautiful my vitiligo was until I traced it,” Ash shared in an interview. What started with a simple outline became something magical.
Now 21, Ash turns her body into living artwork. From tracing her skin to recreating famous masterpieces like Van Gogh’s Starry Night, she’s proving that what society once labeled as “flaws” can be celebrated as stunning, unique beauty.
Ash isn’t stopping anytime soon. Her art inspires people to see beauty in their differences—something she had to learn herself.
Vitiligo may have once made her feel invisible, but today, it’s her superpower. And through every swirl of paint or marker trace, Ash is sending a clear message to the world: Every inch of you is art.
Conclusion:
If Ash’s story moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it—because beauty is everywhere, even where you least expect it.
More of Ash’s incredible body art? Check out her Instagram.
