Grazia: The Power of Owning Your Story, feat. Joti Gata-Aura

As a body confidence coach and the founder of Positively Diverse, I was proud to be featured in Grazia magazine’s empowering summer beauty issue.

In “The Art of Not Giving a F*ck”, I share my deeply personal journey with vitiligo, diagnosed at 21 and kept hidden for many years behind long sleeves and heavy makeup. I speak candidly about the added cultural pressure to conform and the shame I once felt about looking different.

“I remember the moment it appeared on my face. I went into isolation... Even friends and family had no idea.” A colleague once asked, “Aren’t you hot in that?” during a school trip, one of many moments that shaped how I navigated the world with vitiligo.

The turning point came in 2016, when I took a bold leap to appear in a BBC documentary. From there, I launched Positively Diverse, a platform that champions visibility, representation, and confidence for people with visual differences.

In this feature, I reflect on the impact of showing up authentically, not just for myself, but for my students and children. “Coming out of my shell has empowered them to feel confident in who they are, and I’m so proud of that.”

Being represented in Grazia means I join a chorus of inspiring women redefining what it means to feel beautiful and confident, not despite our differences, but because of them.

Contact Joti Gata-Aura to share her story through press, social media and in-person public speaking and television.