Bravery Is Beautiful: How Teen Mallory Habstritt’s Difference Became Her Superpower
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Mallory Habstritt and her mom Annalee sat at their kitchen island, heads bent over notes and characters and plot points. Jokes about puppy antics flew as a narrative took shape. As mother and daughter brainstormed together, a new children’s book about difference and bravery was born.
“Whenever we were talking to each other, ideas just came alive—especially because our main goal was to craft a story close to my heart about bravery and self-acceptance,” Mallory, 15, says. The resulting children’s book, Angel’s Big Splash, has been called a story about “how bravery begins with loving yourself,” and Mallory says that’s a perfect summary. “That’s exactly what writing with my mom felt like: me learning to love my own skin all over again, while turning those little moments into something beautiful that other kids could relate to and feel seen by.”
“Little moments that add up to something beautiful” is a great summary of Mallory’s life story so far, too. A high school sophomore, Mallory is not only a published author; she’s also a national pageant winner, and leads a non-profit organization, Be Brave with Mallory—a vitiligo advocacy project that centers on empowering young people with vitiligo to own their story and their skin.
But she didn’t always feel brave or confident. In elementary school, after her diagnosis with vitiligo in first grade, Mallory struggled with low self-esteem. She felt embarrassed by her white patches, and tried to hide them. “Angel’s journey resembles mine, from a nervous first-grader to now a confident advocate for self-love,” she says. Over the years, a series of “little moments” helped to gradually grow in confidence and self-acceptance.
It started with attending a World Vitiligo Day-USA conference and meeting others with vitiligo. “I realized that my vitiligo made me special. It also showed me that everyone has differences, and struggling with confidence is a normal and real feeling,” Mallory says. Then, in 2023, Mallory competed in the National All-American Miss competition—and won, with her vitiligo on proud display. It was quite the contrast from her pageant beginnings a few years prior.
In her first on-stage competition, Mallory says, “I was so self-conscious—I didn’t even like wearing shorts in the summer because I felt ashamed of the patches on my skin.” She wore tights and camouflage makeup to hide her vitiligo. “But once I kept competing, something shifted. I was surrounded by girls who accepted me for who I was—not for what was different—and that helped me feel less alone and showed me what real confidence looked like,” she says.
Finding that she was accepted for herself among both the vitiligo community and the pageant community gave Mallory the freedom to be just that: herself. It was a pivotal realization, she says. “With every competition, I learned that being perfect wasn’t the goal. Instead, being real was: showing up as Mallory, vitiligo and all. And when I embraced that—when I stopped hiding and started being honest—it felt like a weight lifted.”
Buoyed by supportive friends and family, Mallory began to see her vitiligo story as worth sharing. “I realized my skin wasn’t something to erase—it was part of my story. Pageants gave me a platform to share that story, and to encourage other kids to see that differences—seen or unseen—are something to celebrate,” she says. And with the publication of Angel’s Big Splash, that platform just got a little bigger.
“Having vitiligo has given me a sense of purpose—to speak out, share my story, and encourage others,” Mallory says. “And it’s not just about kids with vitiligo; it’s about everyone. We all have differences—some you can see and some you can’t—and I see mine as an opportunity to remind people to love the skin they’re in.”
Still, Mallory says, the most important impact of her new perspective was invisible and personal: “For me, embracing my vitiligo wasn’t about changing the world—it was about changing how I see me.” From the playground to the pageant stage and anywhere in between, that’s a message anyone who’s ever struggled with self-love can relate to. After all, bravery has to begin within.
We spoke with Mallory about her vitiligo story. Check out her interview with Living Dappled below.
Name: Mallory Hagen Habstritt
Age: 15
Hometown: Orono, Minnesota, USA
Years with Vitiligo: about 10
Living Dappled: To get started, tell us a little about yourself.
Mallory Habstritt: I am 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. I like to row on the school’s crew team, choreograph and dance, learn more about dentistry (my future career!), spend time with friends and family, camp and hike, find the best boba tea, and work on my project, Be Brave with Mallory.
My Mom and I just published our first book—Angel’s Big Splash is a children’s book about a dog named Angel who is nervous to begin at her new school because she is worried about her vitiligo patches. She’s scared that the other pups will not accept her because she is different. Angel meets new friends right away: Dolly (inspired by our sweet and spunky dog, Dolly) and Cleo. Along with her new friends, the support of her family, and a timely postcard from her summer camp counselor, she overcomes her fears. Angel’s journey resembles mine, from a nervous first-grader to now a confident advocate for self-love. Like me, Angel learns to be proud of who she is and bravely shares her story with her friends, much like I did. By the end of the book, Angel embraces her vitiligo spots, which she calls her Angel Kisses.
LD: That sounds like a full, rich life. Tell us about getting diagnosed with vitiligo. When did your first spots appear?
MH: My mom and I first noticed my patches when I was little, maybe in pre-school or Kindergarten. Starting in first grade, when I was diagnosed with vitiligo, I experienced low self-esteem and was ashamed of my difference. Over time, by attending the World Vitiligo Day Conference and meeting others who looked just like me, I realized that my vitiligo made me special. It also showed me that everyone has differences, and struggling with confidence is a normal and real feeling. Now, as a fifteen-year-old, I think of my vitiligo as beautiful.
After reflecting on my long and challenging journey, I want to inspire others by sharing my journey. This [new] book shares a small portion of my experiences with vitiligo to teach children that vitiligo and all differences make you beautiful, unique, and special.
LD: What a testament to the power of friendship and community. We love to see that journey from shame to confidence. What was that process like for you, and how has your vitiligo changed over the years?
MH: When I was younger, vitiligo felt like a burden. I worried people would stare, or that I was somehow “different” in a bad way. For a while, it was embarrassing, and I tried to cover it up. However, as I grew, I realized my spots are part of what makes me me. Instead of something to hide, they’ve become something I love. Having vitiligo has given me a sense of purpose—to speak out, share my story, and encourage others. And it’s not just about kids with vitiligo; it’s about everyone. We all have differences—some you can see and some you can’t—and I see mine as an opportunity to remind people to love the skin they’re in.
LD: That’s such an empowering perspective. And you are doing that from some big stages, too—like the National All-American Miss competition. Tell us more about that.
MH: I first got interested in National All-American Miss because my sister competed, and I wanted to try it, too. At first, I was nervous and sometimes tried to be what I thought the judges wanted me to be. But the more I competed, the more I learned that the best results came when I was just myself. And that included embracing my vitiligo instead of hiding it. The turning point was realizing that the patches on my skin weren’t something to cover up—they were part of what made me unique.
By the time I won a national title in 2023, I had grown so much, not just on stage but in life. Pageants taught me that when you embrace yourself exactly as you are, people see the real you—and that’s what truly shines.
LD: As a pageant competitor, you spend a lot of time on stage or in front of others. How has competing in pageants affected your relationship with your vitiligo?
MH: Being on stage changed everything for me. The very first year I competed, I covered my spots with tights and makeup because I didn’t want anyone to notice. I was so self-conscious—I didn’t even like wearing shorts in the summer because I felt ashamed of the patches on my skin. But once I kept competing, something shifted. I was surrounded by girls who accepted me for who I was—not for what was different—and that helped me feel less alone and showed me what real confidence looked like.
With every competition, I learned that being perfect wasn’t the goal. Instead, being real was: showing up as Mallory, vitiligo and all. And when I embraced that—when I stopped hiding and started being honest—it felt like a weight lifted. I realized my skin wasn’t something to erase—it was part of my story. Pageants gave me a platform to share that story, and to encourage other kids to see that differences—seen or unseen—are something to celebrate.
LD: You recently published a children’s book—tell us about that! What inspired you to write this book?
MH: It’s called Angel’s Big Splash: A Pup Prep Book About Loving the Skin You’re In. The story starts on Angel’s first day at Pup Prep, and she’s really nervous—she doesn’t want anyone to notice her white patches because she’s afraid they’ll make her stand out in a bad way. But as the day goes on, she finds friends who accept her just as she is, and she learns that what makes her different is actually what makes her special. Angel’s story is kind of like mine—learning to see your differences as something to love instead of something to hide.I can’t wait to read it with kids and remind them that bravery starts with loving yourself, exactly as you are. The book is available for purchase on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.
Shop Angel’s Big Splash on Amazon
LD: You wrote this book with your mom—what was that experience like? And what has the reaction been to the book so far?
MH: Working on Angel’s Big Splash with my mom was honestly one of the most fun and meaningful things I’ve ever done. Whenever we were talking to each other, ideas just came alive—especially because our main goal was to craft a story close to my heart about bravery and self-acceptance. We’d sit around our kitchen island, joking about puppy antics, brainstorming how Angel could face her first day at Pup Prep, and figuring out how to make her white patches feel like her “superpower,” not something to hide.
The buzz around Angel’s Big Splash has been so exciting! Lake Minnetonka Magazine featured my story and helped to raise awareness about vitiligo at the same time. I was also invited to share about the book on KARE 11 (NBC), where we talked about why this project matters so much to me. KSTP’s (ABC) Minnesota Live interviewed my mom and me, and we got to explain how courage begins with loving yourself—something Angel learns right alongside her new friends. And Fox9 (FOX) has been by my side for years and has featured my journey with vitiligo three times, the first time being in 2021.When KSTP’s Minnesota Live interviewed us about the book, they called it a story about “how bravery begins with loving yourself,” and that really hit home. That’s exactly what writing with my mom felt like: me learning to love my own skin all over again, while turning those little moments into something beautiful that other kids could relate to and feel seen by.
When I checked on Amazon, I was so excited to see that readers are calling it a “heartwarming differences book for kids” that helps ease first-day-of-school jitters and remind kids they’re not alone. Seeing the book officially available, and the positive reviews—that feels all kinds of amazing.
Sharing this message across so many platforms—print, local news, social media—has reminded me why I wanted to write Angel’s story in the first place: to give kids something joyful and relatable that tells them bravery starts with accepting who you are. I can’t wait to read it aloud to kids and see them smile when Angel takes that big splash—right into being herself.
LD: You’ve already accomplished so much in your 15 years: winning a national pageant, publishing a book, leading inclusivity groups, advocating for vitiligo nationally and pursuing numerous other sports and hobbies (whew!). What are your hopes for the future? Where would you like to be in 5 or 10 years?
MH: This summer, I’ve been working at a dental office in Minnesota, where interning and shadowing the doctors has been a truly transformative experience. From cleaning and sterilizing equipment and rooms to holding the suction and assisting with patient care, I’ve gained valuable insight into the dental and healthcare fields. By becoming part of the daily rhythm of the office, I’ve been able to see what my dream of becoming a dentist and oral surgeon actually looks like in practice. In five years, I hope to be starting my undergraduate studies, majoring in Public Health and Biochemistry. In ten years, I plan to be in dental school, continuing to work toward that goal. At age fifteen, I’m proud of what I’ve already accomplished—but I know this is just the beginning of my journey. I can’t wait to see where it leads.
LD: And we can’t wait to follow along with your journey. To close our interview, what advice do you have for other girls with vitiligo?
MH: When I first learned I had vitiligo, I felt like I needed to hide. But here’s what I’ve discovered: your differences aren’t something to hide—they’re part of what makes you, you. I started using my platform to help others feel comfortable in their own skin, and that turned vitiligo from something I was ashamed of into something I’m proud of. Here’s what I’d say to other girls with vitiligo:
You get to be the author of your story. You don’t owe anyone an explanation about your skin. Share what feels comfortable, in your own timing, and in the way that feels right for you.
Be yourself. The moments I tried to fit an image of “perfect” never felt good—and they didn’t help me grow. When I leaned into being myself, including embracing my vitiligo, that’s when I started to shine.
Surround yourself with people who really see you. For me, the best friends are the ones who celebrate my whole self—yes, how I look matters to me because it is part of my identity, but it’s not the only thing that counts. They love me for my laugh, my personality, and my quirks. That kind of support makes it easier to be brave.
Turn your difference into your superpower. On KARE 11 I shared how my book grew out of my own journey—Angel the puppy feels nervous about her white patches until she learns they make her special. That’s my story too, and I want every girl to know that what makes you different can also be what makes you powerful. This is about vitiligo and it’s also about all of your unique qualities that make you special!
For me, embracing my vitiligo wasn’t about changing the world—it was about changing how I see me. And I hope you’ll do that too. Differences seen or unseen—they’re something to celebrate. So my advice is this: don’t feel pressured to hide or to share before you’re ready. You are enough, exactly as you are, and you get to decide when and how to tell your story.
