# Diandra Forrest

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**Diandra Forrest** (born October 22, 1989) is an [African American](/source/African_American) fashion model and actress with [albinism](/source/Albinism_in_humans). She grew up in the [Bronx](/source/Bronx), New York City, in a Black community where she was bullied for her white skin, until she moved to a private school to avoid it. After graduation, Forrest became the first female model with albinism signed to a major modelling agency,[3][4] and the first to be featured in a national campaign for a major brand.[5][6] She has starred in several short films and appeared in multiple widely released music videos. Forrest uses her prominence to advocate for people with albinism around the world.

## Early life

Forrest was born on October 22, 1989,[7][1] to African American parents, and grew up in the Black community of the [Bronx](/source/Bronx), the northernmost borough of New York City.[8] She was one of five children, of whom only she and her younger brother have albinism.[4] She lacks melanin, giving her white skin, blonde hair, and green eyes, with the classical African full lips and wide nose.[1][9][10] She also has [nystagmus](/source/Nystagmus), a condition where her eyes move back and forth.[9]

Forrest realized she had albinism at the age of nine.[4] She remembers being regularly made fun of for her pale skin and hair, by children and even adults, to the point of tears.[8][11] She changed schools many times until eventually enrolling in the [New York Institute for Special Education](/source/New_York_Institute_for_Special_Education), where her sixth-grade teacher, also an African American woman with albinism, encouraged her.[12] With that added confidence, by the age of fourteen, she decided to become a model.[1] She says she spoke with a modeling coach when she was fourteen or fifteen, but he told her that she would never be a model because she was too odd.[13] Forrest graduated NYISE in 2007, and wrote in the class [yearbook](/source/Yearbook) that in ten years she saw herself "walking the runway of a [Victoria's Secret fashion show](/source/Victoria's_Secret_fashion_show)".[7]

## Modeling

Forrest was noticed by fashion photographer Shameer Khan while walking down [34th Street](/source/34th_Street_(Manhattan)) in New York, and signed with [Elite Model Management](/source/Elite_Model_Management) a month later in February 2009.[14][15][16] She says her coach was wrong, the agency signed her immediately, and clients were interested.[13][17] It was the first time a female model with albinism had signed with a major agency.[18] In the summer of 2009, she left the United States for her first time, to model at [Paris Fashion Week](/source/Paris_Fashion_Week).[12] In May 2015, Forrest was the face of designer [Mimi Plange](/source/Mimi_Plange)'s fall collection.[19] That September, she shared the cover of *[Ebony](/source/Ebony_(magazine))* magazine.[20][3] In May 2016, she told her story in advertising for [Burt's Bees](/source/Burt's_Bees).[21][22]

In October 2017, Forrest became one of five atypical models to be featured in the [Wet n Wild](/source/Wet_n_Wild_(brand)) cosmetics "Breaking Beauty" campaign[23] (along with Asian-American musician [Michelle Zauner](/source/Michelle_Zauner), Olympic weightlifter [Briana Marquez](/source/Briana_Marquez), amputee activist [Mama Cax](/source/Mama_Cax), and Dutch transgender model [Valentijn de Hingh](/source/Valentijn_de_Hingh)).[24] This made her the first model with albinism to front a national campaign for a major beauty brand.[6][5] Forrest said that besides the groundbreaking aspect, she valued that the cosmetics brand made shades that worked on her skin.[13]

## Albinism advocacy

Several years into her career, Forrest was shocked to learn about the [persecution of people with albinism](/source/Persecution_of_people_with_albinism), far greater than the teasing and bullying she faced growing up.[8][25] Throughout the world, the occurrence of albinism is close to 1 in 20,000 people, but in [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania), where the proportion is closer to 1 in 1400, and other countries in [Sub-Saharan Africa](/source/Sub-Saharan_Africa) and [East Africa](/source/East_Africa), people with albinism are at risk of being killed or dismembered, their bodies used as magical charms.[26]

In October 2012, Forrest attended Africa Fashion Week in [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg), South Africa, partly to try to change the way albino people are viewed on that continent.[8][9] In 2015 she was working with Assisting Children in Need, a group which opened a safe house for children with albinism in [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania).[3][27][9]

In the summer of 2016, Forrest appeared in and directed a short film for the "Beyond My Skin" campaign, meant to celebrate albinism.[13] It premiered on [International Albinism Awareness Day](/source/International_Albinism_Awareness_Day), and profits went to the Salif Keïta Global Foundation for people with albinism.[28][29] In May 2019, following the murder of a child with albinism, Forrest flew to [Mali](/source/Mali) to dance a benefit concert with [Salif Keïta](/source/Salif_Keita), a Malian musician who also has albinism.[30] Coumba Makalou, Keïta's wife, who heads the foundation, said Forrest was an inspiration to many girls with albinism, and seeing her could be life changing.[30] In 2019, Forrest appeared as a spokesperson for NYDG ColorFull, a partnership between the New York Dermatology Foundation and the United Nations to support people with albinism.[31][32]

## Acting

In 2013, Forrest starred in the short film *Sololoque* by Ruben Sznajderman, which aired at the [ASVOFF](/source/ASVOFF) festival.[33][34] The following year, Forrest starred in *[Afronauts](/source/Afronauts)*, a speculative science fiction short film by [Nuotama Bodomo](/source/Nuotama_Bodomo) about a 1960s [Zambian](/source/Zambia) woman attempting to beat the US and USSR to the moon.[35][36][37] In 2022, Forrest starred in *War of Colors*, a short film by Emir Kumova about discrimination faced by African Americans with albinism.[38][39]

In August 2010, Forrest appeared in the [music video](/source/Music_video) for [Kanye West](/source/Kanye_West)'s song "[Power](/source/Power_(Kanye_West_song))", ending with her swinging at the singer with a sword.[40][41] In December 2013, Forrest appeared in two music videos for [Beyoncé](/source/Beyonc%C3%A9): in "[Pretty Hurts](/source/Pretty_Hurts)" she plays a beauty contest competitor,[42][43] and in "[XO](/source/XO_(song))" she rides along on a roller coaster.[44] In 2016, Forrest danced in the music video for "Pleasure Toy" by [Bilal](/source/Bilal_(American_singer)).[45]

## Children

Forrest has a daughter, born 2015,[7] and a son, born 2017.[46] In February 2016, Forrest was the target of controversy when she walked the runway at a [Gypsy Sport](/source/Gypsy_Sport) fashion show at [New York Fashion Week](/source/New_York_Fashion_Week).[47] She was holding her seven-week-old daughter close to her chest in a blanket, and some (including *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*)[48] assumed she was [breastfeeding in public](/source/Breastfeeding_in_public),[49] although she was not.[47][49][50] A year later, Forrest posted a photo of her actually breastfeeding her daughter during a fashion shoot, and called back to that moment.[51]

## References

1. ["Fashion model with albinism | Diandra Forrest | TEDxFultonStreet"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqcfWT0jM0Q). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. [TEDx Talks](/source/TEDx_Talks). November 12, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. ["Diandra Forrest – Model"](https://models.com/models/diandra-forrest). *Models.com*. Retrieved May 24, 2025.

1. Bobo, Marielle & Daniels, Kasey. "Made You Look: A powerful new crop of Black models". *[Ebony](/source/Ebony_(magazine))*. '***(September 2015): cover, 94–95, 100.***

1. ["Meet Diandra Forrest – People with albinism, by United Nations Human Rights"](https://albinism.ohchr.org/story-diandra-forrest.html). *albinism.ohchr.org*. [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights](/source/Office_of_the_United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for_Human_Rights). March 20, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Fuller, Gillian (October 10, 2017). ["Here's Why Wet n Wild's Inclusive New "Breaking Beauty" Campaign Is Such a Big Deal"](https://www.allure.com/story/model-with-albinism-wet-n-wild-campaign). *[Allure](/source/Allure_(magazine))*. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. Nussbaum, Rachel (October 11, 2017). ["This Is the First Model With Albinism to Be the Face of a Major Beauty Brand"](https://www.glamour.com/story/diandra-forrest-model-albinism). *[Glamour](/source/Glamour_(magazine))*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["Diandra Forrest"](https://www.nyise.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=431313&type=d&pREC_ID=963969). *[New York Institute for Special Education](/source/New_York_Institute_for_Special_Education)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Forbes, Kate (October 26, 2012). ["Albino models setting the trend for Africa"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-20096144). *[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Huntington, Jacki (April 17, 2016). ["What It's Like To Be Born With Albinism"](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/albino-model-diandra-forrest). *[Refinery29](/source/Refinery29)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Kitchens, Simone (9 March 2017). ["Model Diandra Forrest Opens Up About Her Albinism and Being Comfortable in Her Own Skin"](https://www.glamour.com/story/diandra-forrest-beauty). *[Glamour](/source/Glamour_(magazine))*. Retrieved 29 June 2025.

1. Mulrow, Jennifer & Forrest, Diandra (November 14, 2019). ["I Was Bullied For My Albinism — Now It's My Biggest Source Of Confidence"](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/model-diandra-forrest-albinism-power-faces). *[Refinery29](/source/Refinery29)*. Retrieved May 28, 2025.

1. ["Albinism: Caught Between Dark and Light"](https://abcnews.go.com/2020/overcoming-social-stigma-albinism/story?id=8551660). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))*. October 1, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. Underwood, Khalea (August 15, 2017). ["This Is The First Model With Albinism To Front A Major Beauty Campaign"](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/10/175864/diandra-forrest-wet-n-wild-campaign-interview). *[Refinery29](/source/Refinery29)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Maher, Sarah (February 16, 2009). ["Fashion's New Faces"](https://www.thedailybeast.com/fashions-new-faces/). *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. K, Aïssata (April 30, 2009). ["TMOTW: Diandra Forrest: "A precious diamond""](https://www.timodelle-magazine.com/tmotw-diandra-forrest-a-precious-diamond/) (in fr-FR). *Timodelle Magazine*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["elite clips: INTRODUCING.........DIANDRA."](http://ryanelitemodel2.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/introducingdiandra.html). *Elite Blog*. [Elite Model Management](/source/Elite_Model_Management). February 3, 2009. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090212162606/http://ryanelitemodel2.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/introducingdiandra.html) February 12, 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. Safronova, Valeriya; Nikas, Joanna; Osipova, Natalia V. (September 5, 2017). ["What It's Truly Like to Be a Fashion Model"](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/fashion/models-racism-sexual-harassment-body-issues-new-york-fashion-week.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170905062143/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/fashion/models-racism-sexual-harassment-body-issues-new-york-fashion-week.html) September 5, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. Devash, Meirav (January 12, 2016). ["10 Alt Models Who Redefine Beauty"](https://www.allure.com/gallery/most-popular-alternative-models). *[Allure](/source/Allure_(magazine))*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["Model showcase's the Mimi Plange fall collection for 2015 | Pulse Nigeria"](https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/fashion/diandra-forrest-model-showcases-the-mimi-plange-fall-collection-for-2015-2024080914251760219). *Pulse Nigeria*. May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. Obiuwevbi, Jennifer (August 24, 2015). ["Ebony Magazine is Having A Black Model Moment! Features Winnie Harlow, Diandra Forrest & More in Sept. Issue"](https://www.bellanaija.com/2015/08/ebony-magazine-is-having-a-black-model-moment-features-winner-harlow-diandra-forrest-more-in-sept-issue/). *[BellaNaija](/source/BellaNaija)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Jardine, Alexandra (May 12, 2016). ["Burt's Bees Celebrates Unique Beauties in Uplifting Campaign"](https://adage.com/creativity/work/love-your-nature-diandra/47045/). *[Advertising Age](/source/Advertising_Age)*. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. Gianatasio, David (May 13, 2016). ["Burt's Bees Tells Two Young Women's Remarkable Stories of Unique Beauty"](https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/burts-bees-tells-two-young-womens-remarkable-stories-unique-beauty-171461/). *[AdWeek](/source/AdWeek)*. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. Armstrong, Harriet (October 11, 2017). ["Albino model breaks beauty barriers"](https://style.nine.com.au/beauty/albino-model-beauty-campaign-diversity-makeup/dce26cf6-6d18-4a6f-a9d8-eac828c40f10). *[Nine.com.au](/source/Nine.com.au)*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. Demopoulos, Alaina (October 12, 2017). ["Wet n Wild Is Making History With an Albino Model in Its New Campaign"](https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/wet-n-wild-campaign-albino-model-diandra-forrest-44136913). *Popsugar*. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. Stroud, Court (June 19, 2019). ["Stand Out Strong: An Interview With Model And Albinism Activist Diandra Forrest"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/courtstroud/2019/06/19/stand-out-strong-an-interview-with-model-and-albinism-activist-diandra-forrest/). *[Forbes](/source/Forbes)*. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. Ager, Susan. ["For Them, Being Pale Can Bring Scorn, Threats, and Worse"](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/albinism-health-genetics-society). *[National Geographic](/source/National_Geographic)*. No. June 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210226015332/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/albinism-health-genetics-society) February 26, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. ["Tanzania"](https://www.assistingchildreninneed.org/projects/tanzania). *Assisting Children in Need*. Retrieved May 24, 2025.

1. ["International Albinism Awareness Day Campaign"](https://www.bencawiezell.com/new-gallery-1). *Ben Cawiezell*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. [""Beyond My Skin" Campaign Short Film – Beauty For Freedom"](https://beautyforfreedom.org/beyond-my-skin-campaign-short-film/). *[Beauty for Freedom](/source/Beauty_for_Freedom)*. June 13, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["People with Albinism Are Finding Their Voice"](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/we-are-tired-of-being-ignored/episode/mali-episode-one). *[Open Society Foundations](/source/Open_Society_Foundations)*. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. Oakes, Karl (December 12, 2019). ["Albinism awareness goes global in dermatologists' nonprofit work | MDedge"](https://www.mdedge.com/edermatologynews/article/214220/pigmentation-disorders/albinism-awareness-goes-global-dermatologists). *MDEdge*. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. ["NYDG ColorFull"](https://www.nydgcolorfull.org/). NYDG Foundation. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. [""SOLOLOQUE" BY RUBEN SZNAJDERMAN"](https://ashadedviewonfashion.com/2013/09/23/sololoque-ruben-sznajderman/). *[A Shaded View on Fashion](/source/A_Shaded_View_on_Fashion)*. September 23, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. Sznajderman, Ruban (June 5, 2012). ["Sololoque (for Bijules)"](https://vimeo.com/43452026). *[Vimeo](/source/Vimeo)*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. Shields, Derica (March 14, 2013). ["Frances Bodomo's 'Afronauts': What Became of the Zambian Space Program? | OkayAfrica"](https://www.okayafrica.com/african-film-director-frances-bodomo-afronauts-zambia-space-race/). *[OkayAfrica](/source/OkayAfrica)*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["'Afronauts' – Ragtag Group Of Zambian Exiles Try To Beat America To The Moon (Fundraising) – Blavity"](https://blavity.com/afronauts-ragtag-group-of-zambian-exiles-try-to-beat-america-to-the-moon-fundraising). *[Blavity](/source/Blavity) News & Entertainment*. April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. Sumba, Eric Otieno (December 1, 2020). ["Afronauts are forever | The enduring cultural legacy of the 'Zambia Space Program'"](https://griotmag.com/en/afronauts-zambia-space-program/). *GRIOT*. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

1. Davis, Linsey (November 10, 2022). ["Video 'War of Colors' documents fighting discrimination against albinism"](https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/war-colors-documents-fighting-discrimination-albinism-93079186). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["WAR OF COLORS | Omeleto"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab8IUtHG1iA). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. November 12, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. ["FRESH FACES: Meet Diandra Forrest, Albino Supermodel"](https://hellobeautiful.com/1245405/fresh-faces-meet-diandra-forrest-albino-supermodel/). *Hello Beautiful – Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Hair Care for Black Women*. August 6, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

1. West, Kanye (August 5, 2010). ["Kanye West – POWER"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53gjP-TtGE). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. Retrieved May 25, 2025.

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1. Forrest, Diandra (December 1, 2018). ["Happy birthday baby boy"](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0q1mguduuLPNAr7eTRNgUU2JrwY4oHC1PT7jq14ByspKn3QU2hExUBRXAoEzybejDl&id=158923744172095). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

1. Spedding, Emma (February 22, 2016). ["Model Diandra Forrest hits back at those shocked she was breastfeeding on the New York Fashion Week catwalk"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/new-york-fashion-week/diandra-forrest-breastfeeding-new-york-fashion-week-catwalk/). *[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Teeman, Tim; McNearney, Allison; Crocker, Lizzie (February 21, 2016). ["The 10 Things We Learned at Fashion Week"](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-10-things-we-learned-at-new-york-fashion-week/). *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*. Retrieved May 24, 2025.

1. Brown, Maressa (February 23, 2016). ["The Truth About That "Breastfeeding" Runway Model"](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/news/a54120/model-diandra-forrest-nyfw-baby-breastfeeding/). *[Cosmopolitan](/source/Cosmopolitan_(magazine))*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

1. Mazziotta, Juliet (February 24, 2016). ["Model Says She Wasn't Breastfeeding While Walking at NYFW"](https://people.com/article/breastfeeding-model-nyfw). *[People](/source/People_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160224095209/https://people.com/article/breastfeeding-model-nyfw) February 24, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 24, 2025.

1. Greenfield, Beth (March 1, 2017). ["Model With Albinism Breastfeeds Daughter in Stunning New Fashion Shoot"](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/albino-model-breastfeeds-daughter-in-stunning-new-fashion-shoot-224347768.html). *[Yahoo Life](/source/Yahoo_Life)*. Retrieved May 18, 2025.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Diandra Forrest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diandra_Forrest) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diandra_Forrest?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.