Onella Muralidharan on beauty beyond skin deep

Onella Muralidharan was seven when she told her parents she no longer wanted to hide her Vitiligo—the skin condition that removes pigment from different areas of the body. Unwavered by off-key comments and advice, Onella is now on runways and representing major brands, such as Mecca, Bonds and Lululemon, to counter outdated and ill-informed beauty standards. The Sri Lankan-Australian model, content creator and advocate unravels with Suhayla Sharif living with Vitiligo, pushing boundaries in the beauty industry, finding her voice online and being featured in Vogue Australia. Listen to the full episode now— wherever you find your podcasts.

Onella Muralidharan reflects on how body positivity begins with being bold for SBS Spice. Photos by Steph King.

When I started modelling, I probably appreciated my body a little bit more, and that's purely because it's being celebrated. It's being shown in the media. I didn't really see that a lot growing up. I just thought I had to always shrink myself and make myself smaller.

Onella Muralidharan on how becoming a model shaped her body image. Photo by Steph King.

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