“It broke my heart” – Georgia May Foote’s Vitiligo Journey
Georgia May Foote first became involved with The Vitiligo Society in 2025, when she spoke at our World Vitiligo Day Event, sharing her experience of living with vitiligo. Over the past year, she’s continued to use her platform to raise awareness and support others in the community.
Georgia is an English actress and model best known for playing Alison Simmons in the BBC school drama Grange Hill and Katy Armstrong in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She has established herself across British television, theatre, and voice acting and we are thrilled that she volunteers as an ambassador with our charity.
Ahead of this year’s Vitiligo Awareness Month, we caught up with her for a personal Q&A to talk through her journey so far: From first noticing the changes in her skin, through diagnosis, to how she’s navigating life with vitiligo today.
Can you remember when you first noticed your vitiligo?
In 2020 my first patches started on my chest and they were tiny. I went to see a doctor who told me it was tinea versicolour, a kind of fungal infection of the skin. I spent weeks washing with Selsun (an over-the-counter anti-fungal wash), but it didn’t get better. Instead new patches had started to show on my thumbs, so I knew it had to be something else.
How did you feel in that moment, and what thoughts did you have about what it might be?
I was concerned to be honest, because not long after that I went on holiday and noticed I was burning easily, even on my darker skin. As someone with olive skin I have never ever burnt so something didn’t feel right. It was when I saw a picture of Winnie Harlow that I just knew it was something more. This was extremely infuriating as the misdiagnosis I had was just prolonging the process and allowing my vitiligo to spread more and more. In the end I asked to be referred to dermatology. The referral took a year, and by then I had patches all over my hands. My vitiligo had spread so much that I think it was much easier to diagnose.
Since my diagnosis it has continued to spread. In 2024 it was on my elbows, by 2025 it started on my face and got bad around my armpits. Now, in 2026, it’s also on my hips.
What changed once you finally had the correct diagnosis?
In all honesty nothing. Because I was met with ‘its incurable’ which broke my heart. I spent a year waiting for some answers and got diagnosed and discharged the same day. I felt abandoned and ignored.
Have you explored treatment?
Some people don’t want to treat it and that’s incredible. However, for me it’s more about taking care of the fact I do burn now in the sun as that’s a change for me, I want my old skin back. I don’t like the itching I get, the change when I wake up and see a new patch. I find it overwhelming, so it’s having the choice if I wanted to treat it that’s important to me for me and for others.
I was offered steroid cream and a protopic cream, but I didn’t get on with them well. I am currently on the waiting list (have been for 5 months now) to start light therapy. And hopefully I will get offered the opportunity to try the newly licensed treatment too.
How did your family or close friends respond when they first saw the changes?
They showed obvious concern at the beginning. Then when it started to spread more they saw the effect it had on me mentally and how much it killed my confidence. They have always told me it makes me unique and that half of the time they don’t even see it. They just see me for who I am. And they remind me daily that I am strong.
Despite their support I found it hard, I’ve also been known for having such a great tan. Being a public figure, I have always felt judged on my appearance, so for my skin and the way it is changing to be out of my control – I’ve struggled with it a lot.
Previously I had been put in categories such as ‘sexiest female’ and then, suddenly, I developed this condition and felt really lost. I have had a mix of reactions from people flinching away from me to people saying they wish they had it! I just feel lucky I am a strong person. Don’t get me wrong I have bad days where it makes me really sad and I wish I didn’t have it and could go back to feeling and looking ‘normal’. But I find comfort in being able to share my story and if I can make someone aware of the condition, or even give someone with the condition some confidence, then that is what I tell myself I have it for!
What have been the hardest emotional moments for you?
The hardest part was for sure watching the pigment start on my face. I would say that for me has been the hardest battle. As someone who used to worship the sun it makes me sad as I am so scared I will burn. And, the darker my skin goes the more prominent the patches are. So, it then makes me feel really paranoid when people stare at me.
Holidays have massively changed for me now, I am working on that. When I meet new people, I do feel the need to explain what I have so they don’t sit wondering what is going on.
What helps you on the days when vitiligo feels overwhelming?
In all honesty I just sit with the feeling. I let myself cry. Speak about it to people. I try to remember I’m in the 1% club and that one day I will look back at the way I have helped others and I feel proud.
How did you first hear about The Vitiligo Society?
Through Instagram! I found the work you do incredible and it made me realise there is a community of us that need bringing together to make our voice louder so people don’t feel alone.
Was there anything about The Vitiligo Society that resonated with you early on?
The way you made it look so beautiful. The approach to the condition didn’t feel medical or scary. It felt more like mental health support, which I think people forget is a huge part of this condition.
I will do anything to make sure people don’t feel alone. In anything in life. And I never want people to not feel like they are good enough. I want people to know they are beautiful. I feel like I am a ‘celebrity’ that has always been approachable and someone people feel they can relate to. I don’t feel like I am someone people feel is out of reach. I’m a normal girl who speaks on a normal level. And I want to use the platform I have to help people just like me.
What do you hope to achieve as an ambassador for The Vitiligo Society?
I want treatment to be better. I want more noise made around the condition and the effect it has on people’s mental health. I want people to see our skin and it be as normal as anyone else’s. I want it to be something people don’t feel they have to explain what it is to people. I also want us to have better access and quicker access to treatment.
What would you say to someone who is newly diagnosed and feeling scared or overwhelmed?
It’s a journey. And a journey only you can navigate. You will feel up and confident. You will feel down and insecure.
Whichever day you are having, it’s ok. Show it off and be proud when you feel that way. If you don’t there are ways, we can get around keeping it less obvious. There’s always a way to deal with how you feel. And no way is it the right way.
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