Vitiligo doesn’t discriminate between races, nationalities or professions. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many politicians could also be affected by the chronic skin disorder.
Just like all of us, many politicians have had to deal with vitiligo while living in the public eye. The good news is that they did maintain a positive outlook towards life and had a successful political career. This can only motivate us to do well professionally. Here is the list of some famous politicians with vitiligo.
1. Édouard Philippe
Édouard Charles Philippe, the ex-prime minister of France, is currently serving as Mayor of Le Havre. Édouard was in news for his brown beard dotted with white spots questions. To which, Edouard responded in Paris Match that he has vitiligo.
2. Chandrababu Naidu
Ex-chief minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu excelled in the field of regional politics and brought glory to the state during his time in the office.
Never worrying about his vitiligo, Naidu went on to receive many titles like IT Indian of the Millennium (from India Today), Business Person of the Year (by The Economic Times) and South Asian of the Year (by Time Asia).
3. Eddie Panlilio
The ‘Filipino of the Year’ in 2007, Eddie Panlilio has been a beloved Roman Catholic priest for years now. For 15 years, Panlilio worked with communities displaced by Lahar following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. He is currently serving as the governor of the province of Pampanga (Philippines).
The white spots first appeared on Panlilio’s forehead in 2003, which has a hereditary cause (as his mother’s cousin had the same skin disorder). The 64-year-old Catholic priest has vitiligo spread around his lips and below the cheeks.
4. Santosh Gangwar
The incharge of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the Government of India, Santosh Kumar Gangwar is the Member of Parliament and a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. He has prominent vitiligo all over his chin, lips, nose, and hands. Santosh is a self-made, seasoned politician who served in as Minister of State for Textiles from May 2014 to July 2016 before he was sworn in as Minister of State for Finance.
5. Asifa Bhutto Zardari
The youngest daughter of the only lady Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan, Asifa Bhutto Zardari, is the Brand Ambassador of anti-polio vaccination campaign in her home country.
As a public health champion, Asifa attends the public gathering and meet local and global officials without any vitiligo imposed inhibitions. She has white vitiligo lesions on her face, which she does not see as an obstacle.
6. Waris Pathan
Waris is an Indian politician and an Advocate, who famously represented a 1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts accused and actor Salman Khan in his hit-and-run case. Waris was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Mumbai’s Byculla assembly constituency. He is a political representative of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
7. Sunil Singh
Doctor Sunil Singh is an eye specialist by profession and spokesperson of Janata Dal United (a political party functioning in Bihar, India) by passion. Sunil is living with universal vitiligo, which covers more than 80% of his body.
The ‘Famous Vitiligans‘ list (Famous Politicians Edition) is compiled after a lot of research and is based on local news coverage and validation from many online and offline sources. If you detect any discrepancy, please write to us at reachus@uniteforvitiligo. We will amend the entry.
