Move out the way because Carlene A. John is charging full steam ahead and crushing every barrier that stands in her way.
Carlene is one of a kind. She’s an inspiring New York-based fashion model who is leaving an indelible mark in the industry with each runway walk, magazine spread, and brand deal.
Everything about her is memorable – she’s beautiful, confident, and commands each room with a smile that captivates and a presence that is magnetic.
“I just knew I was different,” Carlene told The Weight She Carries. “I had a different mindset, and I knew that I was going to make it far.”
Carlene has experienced some monumental achievements as a model. In 2021, she landed an Olay spread in Vogue’s September 2021 Issue. Then, she became a Savage X Fenty Ambassador. Even with such notable accomplishments as a model, it’s clear that Carlene is only getting started.
“I’m a big believer in speaking things into existence,” she said. “Whatever the mind can believe, it can achieve.”
However, the highs have not been without lows. Rejection and modeling are a package deal, and for a model with vitiligo, the nos were abundant.
This is a story of a woman whose determination and resilience have landed her at the forefront of expanding the definition of beauty.
Early Life and Upbringing
Carlene was born into a close-knit family with roots tracing back to Grenada, in the West Indies. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York, along with her twin sister and younger brother.
“My upbringing was pretty normal,” she said, reflecting on the simple joys of school, chores, and family time. Her twin sister, Arlene, provided a contrasting dynamic. While Carlene was outgoing and lively, Arlene was more reserved and calmer.
“We complement each other perfectly,” Carlene said. “We don’t even look alike. We have some similarities, obviously, because we are twins, but we are opposites. I’m taller, she’s shorter. I look like my mom, she looks like my dad.”
The Beginning of Vitiligo
In 8th Grade, Carlene noticed a small spot on her left arm and another one on her face.
“It was a tiny spot right on my left arm,” she said. “I told my mom, and she had an idea of what it may be because my great, great-grandmother had vitiligo. So it does run on both sides of my family, but I was just the only one in the immediate family who got it.”
Carlene’s mother took her to a Black female dermatologist. With the family history of vitiligo, the diagnosis was easier.
Vitiligo is a chronic, autoimmune condition that causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack and destroy melanin-producing cells. This leads to the loss of pigment in the skin, hair, and sometimes the eyes.
Carlene started light therapy, a treatment that aims to restore colour to skin, but had to stop due to conflicts with school. As she hit puberty, the patches started to spread more.
Navigating School Life with Vitiligo
Transitioning through school with vitiligo presented its own set of challenges.
“School is very hard. I was teased, but I wouldn’t say that it was horrible to the point where I was bullied,” she said. “In junior high school, I had a lot of supportive friends. They just loved me for me.”
However, things changed in high school. Internally, Carlene grappled with her self-image and the emotional weight of her condition.
“I did go through the whole depressed stage. It was hard accepting that I had vitiligo, and I was the only one in the family with it. I think I was just too hard on myself. So that’s what caused the depressed stage.”
Those days were dark, but her family and friends provided constant support and reminded her that she was beautiful and special.
Building Confidence Through Modeling
At 16, Carlene decided to pursue her passion for modeling, inspired by her mother’s modeling past and her cousin Kiki’s success in the industry.
“I always knew I was going to be someone big,” she said.
Despite the inevitable rejections in modeling, Carlene learned to view them as part of the journey rather than setbacks. Her model coach played a pivotal role in shaping her perspective and initially sent her home.
“When I started modeling, my model coach told me no because I lacked confidence,” Carlene said. “I went home and cried. I was bawling my eyes out to my mom, but I realized that crying was not going to do anything. It wasn’t going to change anything. So I went back the next week.”
“‘What are you doing here?’ he asked. I said, ‘I want to model.’ He said, ‘All right, well, let me see you walk.’”
Carlene mustered all the confidence she could and strutted across the room like her life depended on it.
“Me showing that much confidence in that one small moment changed his mind. He took me under his wing, and from there, it was never-ending. That confidence just started to grow and grow and grow. And that’s who made me actually who I am today.”
“I’m very emotional, but just having that drive in me, that walk, that confidence – it was the reason I kept trying. I knew that what I had was gold. I knew my potential. I knew what I could bring to the table. That kept me going.”
Carlene’s big break came when she participated in her first fashion show and received compliments for her confidence. Then, she started getting booked.
A Turning Point: Embracing Her Vitiligo
“For a long time, I was honestly covering my face with makeup because I was afraid, and I was not ready,” she said.
The real turning point came when Charlene was 24 years old. During a fashion show, a friend encouraged her to showcase her vitiligo without makeup for the first time.
“I thought, why not?” Carlene recalled. That decision marked a significant shift in her confidence. The positive feedback she received that day fueled her self-acceptance and empowered her to embrace her true self.
“One thing I always told myself is to be memorable. It wasn’t all easy. I was rejected many times and told that, having vitiligo, the attention would be on my skin and not the garments.”
The nos hurt, but Carlene learned to look past the rejection, believing that the yeses would come in due time.
“Don’t get me wrong. I would cry,” she said. “But then I would say, ‘It’s OK because somebody else is going to see me. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Achievements and Milestones
Carlene’s journey led to significant milestones, including modeling for well-known brands like Old Navy and Olay.
“I always spoke things into existence,” she explained, recalling her excitement when she landed a spread in Vogue. It was a dream fulfilled, a testament to her hard work and determination. Additionally, her proactive nature shone through when she reached out to Fenty Beauty, expressing her desire to be part of their casting. This bold step resulted in her becoming an ambassador for the brand.
Advice for Others
Carlene’s journey is not just about modeling; it’s a powerful message of self-love. Carlene now uses her platform to raise awareness about vitiligo and promote self-acceptance. To anyone struggling with self-acceptance, her message is clear:
“God made you this way for a reason. Use that to empower, to motivate, to acknowledge, to spread awareness to others. Choose to love the skin that you’re in and who you are. Once you love yourself, accept who you are, appreciate who you are, and embrace who you are, it's going to naturally flow to everyone else. People are going to naturally gravitate to you. The people who are supposed to be in your life will be in your life. Those who are not supposed to be in life will just flicker away.”
Carlene’s journey is a testament to resilience, self-acceptance, and the celebration of individuality. From her early struggles with vitiligo to her rise as a successful model and ambassador, she has become a beacon of hope for many. Her story inspires others to embrace their uniqueness and recognize that true beauty comes in all forms.
As Carlene continues to shine in the fashion industry, she reminds us all that our differences can be our greatest strengths.
Vimbai E. is a content marketer, ghostwriter, and the founder of The Weight She Carries. With hundreds of articles and stories publishing online, in print and for broadcast, her love of language and storytelling shines through every piece of writing that bears her name.