About
Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young—better known as Winnie Harlow—is a Canadian fashion model, entrepreneur, and advocate whose distinct vitiligo patterns have redefined mainstream ideas of beauty. Born on July 27, 1994, in Mississauga, Ontario, to Jamaican parents, she first drew global attention in 2014 on America’s Next Top Model and has since walked runways from Paris to Shanghai. In 2022 she introduced Cay Skin, a suncare line designed for every complexion, and in February 2025 she said yes to NBA star Kyle Kuzma’s beachfront proposal, proudly flashing an 8.5-carat ring to her 10 million Instagram followers.
Before Fame
Winnie’s childhood was shaped by a vitiligo diagnosis at age four. Classmates teased her so relentlessly that she switched schools several times and even considered leaving school altogether. Instead of hiding, she began posting confident selfies online, celebrating the very skin pattern others mocked. Those images caught Tyra Banks’ eye; the supermodel invited her onto ANTM Cycle 21, giving Winnie a platform to speak openly about skin difference and self-worth.
Trivia
- Barrier-breaking strut: In 2018 she became the first model with vitiligo to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
- On-screen moments: Beyoncé cast her in the visual album Lemonade (2016), and she later appeared in music videos for Calvin Harris and Eminem.
- Sun-care founder: After suffering a severe sunburn on a 2018 photo shoot, she spent three years formulating Cay Skin, a reef-safe SPF line that leaves zero white cast. The brand launched in March 2022 and quickly landed on Sephora shelves.
- Charity horsepower: In May 2025 she teamed up with eBay to auction a vintage 1993 Porsche 911 and designer pieces during the Miami Grand Prix weekend; proceeds benefit Vitiligo Support International.
- Accolades: She has co-hosted Amazon’s fashion competition Making the Cut, earned spots on BBC’s “100 Women” list, and fronted campaigns for Fendi, Moschino, and Dior.
Family Life
Winnie is the middle child of mechanic Windsor Young and hairdresser Lisa Brown. She often credits her parents’ Jamaican work ethic—and countless hours spent in her dad’s garage—for her drive. Her siblings, older brother Jordan and younger sister Christina, cheer from the front row whenever she walks.
Romance blossomed in early 2020 when Kuzma’s second Instagram DM finally caught her eye during pandemic lockdowns. Daily FaceTime calls turned into cross-country flights, and she relocated to Los Angeles a month later. Five years on, the couple celebrated their engagement during a Turks and Caicos vacation where Kuzma recited a poem before fireworks lit the sky.
Associated With
- Tyra Banks: Discovered Winnie online and introduced her to reality-TV viewers worldwide.
- Beyoncé: Featured the model in Lemonade, amplifying her visibility far beyond fashion circles.
- Lewis Hamilton: Close friend and Formula 1 legend; the two regularly support each other’s projects, most recently the 2025 Miami charity auction.
- Kyle Kuzma: Milwaukee Bucks forward and Winnie’s fiancé, whose persistence on social media sparked their love story.
- Designers & brands: From walking for Giambattista Valli to starring in Fendi ads, Winnie collaborates with industry heavyweights that value her commitment to inclusive beauty.
