Chantelle Brown-Young, a contestant on the upcoming cycle of America’s Next Top Model, recently opened up about her skin disorder vitiligo.

'America's Next Top Model' Contestant On Her Vitiligo

Brown-Young’s vitiligo is a skin disorder that affects roughly 1% of the population and causes white patches to form on one’s skin. The white patches develop when cells that produce skin pigment are destroyed. Brown-Young first noticed patches developing when she was four-years-old.

"The bullying started when I went to school," Brown-Young, 20, told People. "It was tough. I definitely had problems with self-esteem."

"Growing up, it was a 'fake it 'til you make it' type of thing. I just decided, ‘You know what? I'm going to keep telling myself I'm beautiful until I feel beautiful,’” Brown-Young added. “And it happened."

Brown-Young eventually took up modeling. Not long after launching her modeling career and uploading photographs of herself on Instagram, she was approached by America’s Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks, who wanted her on the CW reality TV show.

"I'd only been modeling for maybe a year before she found me, so I was pretty fresh," said the model. "The fact that she wanted me so badly for her show will stick with me for the rest of my life."

America's Next Top Model premieres Aug. 18 on the CW at 9/8c.