South African lawyer turned model Thando Hopa has made history by becoming the first woman with Albinism to be on the cover of the prestigious high fashion Vogue Magazine.
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The Vogue Portugal April issue pays homage to Africa, and the issue is dubbed “Africa Motherland”.
“This edition celebrates boundless creative resources of Africans and Afro-descendants through fashion, beauty, art, lifestyle, entertainment and culture.” says Patricia Domingues, Features Editor at Vogue Portugal.
Thando says she was shocked when first contacted for the cover.
“I was in total disbelief when I was first contacted to do the cover. My mother thought I was going to be trafficked by a bunch of strangers,” – she said.
“The shock was probably because we’ve never come across a woman with albinism on a Vogue cover. I felt a bit overwhelmed, thinking about the many barriers the very existence of this representation could break,” – Thando added.
“I once said to a close friend that it would really be lovely to see a woman with albinism on a Vogue Cover, I would not have imagined that that woman would be me. “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” I’m emotional, because I see progress and get to form part of a progressive story and narrative. I got to a place in my career where I appreciate every specimen of my body and knowing that wherever I go, my existence, the way it is, has always and will always be enough (sic),” – Thando Hopa also shared an emotional post on social media
Hopa and advocate for diversity will be hosting a panel of industry trailblazers and businesswomen at the Beauty Revolution festival, which is the first of it’s kind in South Africa, taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on the 6th and 7th April.
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Image Courtesy: instagram.com/thandohopa