stay tuned for my friend Lucy

I had a terrific lunch with a new friend of mine, Lucy B. yesterday. She is one of millions of Americans that has vitiligo. Lucy is an amazing jazz singer and I asked her to share her experience on this blog. So we will look forward to it soon.We had lunch to discuss her being my first official guest on my tv show being taped on June 19th, 2008. Although, Lucy's vitiligo is advanced, we share so many things incommon living with vitiligo.

When we walked into the cafe on Wilshire, she asked me if I wanted to sit in the sun and my eyebrow raised; I thought "how could she want to sit in the sun and expose the less pigmented skin to the dangers of the sun rays?"So, I asked her and go figure, like the rest of the planet, she said "girl I love the sun, I could sit in the sun all the time". However, we agreed that if we don't add sunscreen every two hours, we can blister and that is so NOT cute or healthy!Great thing to find out is that life doesn't stop for people with vitiligo.

We are human and function like everyone else except that we can easily distract people with the blotchiness of white spots, particularly if the skin is brown to very dark.Lucy told me she has a supportive boyfriend. For women who have to live with Vitiligo, there are times that we might wonder if a man could genuinely be attracted to us physically and handle the affects of the pigment change. Some will and some won't, we just have to discern the truth from their behavior. Isn't that what's generally done anyway with or without vitiligo?Well, I just wanted to share a little about Lucy B. and will read from her soon.

Rainy Nite In Cali.

For all those that are not familiar with Southern California--IT'S RAINING !!!!! It rarely rains in southern California , like the lyrics of Toni, Tony , Tone song "It never rains in sunny Southern California.." Of course along with the rain comes mudslides, ruined homes and a wet, slimy mess! But AH! it is such a relief from the pollution, the sun (some days it is my best friend and other days my worse enemy) and at times, yes the People of Tinsel Town. U know what I really mean! :-)


Today, noticed a teeny weeny white spot on the right cheek of my face (need to make that one clear cause there are no spots on the "lower back cheeks" but it can happen). :-) Many of my close friends know I moved out to LA to pursue my career in TV, with all odds against me, pigment, age and little demand for ethnicity, my family and friends know I am on a serious mission to realize my dreams while educating those that aren't familiar with Vitiligo.Lately, I have been asked if I know about Lee Thomas, the African-American reporter from Detroit who was on 20/20 and Larry King discussing his pigment disorder. YES, YES I do and if you run into him tell him I want to interview him. :-)

He has told his story to Larry, now I am ready to tell mine. The only difference between Lee and I, is that I really don't want to have to apply make up on my face (only lightly) nor hands,. Am not feeling that caked on and heavy make-up application on face or hands. Lee doesn't apply it on his hands and neither would I. You know that Tammy Faye Baker look? Just not cute.However, anybody working in front of the camera always must wear make-up unless you are a Seventh Day Adventist like a popular Anchor in Atlanta. She truly has natural beauty so she lucked up. (at least that is what I heard).

I am a City girl and I love make-up, and all the material things that Hollywood has to offer but U must know I am a City (Chicago) girl that has a heart of Platinum and looks forward to engaging Hollywood and the world in conversations and dispelling the myths of Vitiligo and Michael Jackson's Glove. LOL
Posted by Maia at 5:17 PM 0 comments

Refreshed and Re-Determined

Just returned from a great visit to Ft. Lauderdale and it was hot, humid and beautiful! One thing about having vitiligo is, I have to be careful about being exposed to the sun during peak hours. The pigment that has turned white, if exposed to high rays can burn, blister and can result in Cancer.Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and is there to serve as some protection from the sun.

SO, if pigment is no longer there, then we are "naked" to the sun and it can be a dangerous road to go down. And of course, I am one of millions of people that love to soak the sun all up. NOT ANYMORE, there are times that I am on pins and needles tip-toeing around trying not to burn and making sure on an average day out running errands that I carry Sol-bar, a leading sun block for people with vitiligo.


Most women carry hand lotion, I carry sun-block 38 and it has lot's of zinc which is a good nutrient for the skin. While adoring my beautiful brown, there our times when I am prepping myself for a eulogy for my brown skin that will one day turn all white (if I decide to expedite it). Part of me looks in the mirror everyday and says to myself, "self you are beautiful brown and you will be a beautiful white cause the core of you is radiant from within" and then my evil twin says "yeah girl no more tropical tans for you, just going to have to be exotic on the inside".

That is a battle for me, anyone can be exotic but for me when I see men and women of color with beautiful skin tones and radiant glows of red, copper and bronze skin, I think...DAMN! I got to get rid of all my bronzers and brown makeup and purchase all new colors and shades of white. Now that is not going to be an easy transition for me, since I have known brown all my life and love the color tones of my pigment. However, this experience is a test to my inner character and opens the doors to new life dimensions.I am refreshing and redetermining that I will make this transition work for me in all good ways and still continue to love my brown.

Did I mention that I chant Nam-Myo-ho-Renge-Kyo? www.sgi-usa.org It has been an awesome tool to use to face myself and perform altruistic deeds in society. It is Nichiren Buddhism and I have lived this practice for 20 years. It's not magical, just all about cause and effect and transforming our inner negative functions to provide a springboard for absolute happiness just as we are. That includes chanting to have the strong life condition to be aggresive in our personal actions coupled with prayer to be unafraid of what life throws at us.

We are the writers, producers and directors of this screenplay called, our life and we have the inner power to surmount anything and everything. I have been chanting for the wisdom and will continue to do so from now on.It is a process.

Gotta run but want to do a quick hello to Carl and Mia Clinger two of the best photographers I know. www.clingerandmia.com Soon, they will be helping me bring some very personal pictures/portraits of theier amazing work.. Basically, they're talented ways of capturing my vitiligo and my personality in picture form will be amazing and I can't wait to show you how hot these pictures.

Another day another post

Another day of changing colors. I looked down at my ankles and noticed that a new family of white spots have set up camp! Darn it! That's my first true feeling and then I am thinking if I should call Dr. Grimes and tell her I just want to fast forward; meaning, turn my whole body white so my complexion can be even all over.Well, not quite yet. My face has not gotten splotchy with white spots and as long as I can endure the vitiligo everywhere else, I can hold off from moving expeditiously in turning all-white.

It sounds funny to me sometimes because, when I think of being completely white in pigment color, my mind sometimes plays tricks on me .What I mean by that is, I start to wonder if my world will completely change. Will more doors open due to my white pigment or will my life experiences as an African-American woman typically be the same? Has society matured and racism is melting away or is it getting subtly worse?
Whether one was raised a racist or developed this mentality by association and by their own ignorance; it is not uncommon to notice in certain areas of our society, forms of service in sales, customer service, social circles and other categories that still discriminate based on pigment color.

I wonder if I will ever receive better treatment than a light or dark skinned African-American because my vitiligo has turned my entire face and body white? How will I feel right at that moment and what will I say?No worries here, my granddaddy, Douglass Ryan Turner from Natchez Mississippi who migrated North to Chicago (check out the Who's Who Book 1966 or 1967) taught me to speak out against injustice and never be afraid to question authority after you do your research first. He said to me once " If you don't like what is happening around you then use your education and wisdom to take action and fix it"!!I have some time until I decide either to prolong the pigment change and keep the brown I love so much or to transform to all white.Live wisely and healthy!

Yes it is true! Our first filming of "Pecan Swirl" begins on June 19th 2008.I decided that while I am beating the pavement to find an Agent that will work with me as an Entertainment Host, secure tv/cable contract and while searching for a bullet-proof health insurance plan (the 3 most important things u need in Hollywood :-) , I would begin sharing my life and that of others living with vitiligo to Southern Californians. (there will be more info to come later)I wanted to use one of the most powerful communication tools on earth, TELEVISION to partner with this blog and create some visual movement.

The show is titled , "Pecan Swirl" and it will feature amazing and well, different kind of folk who all live with Vitiligo.From professional make-up artists from MAC to life coaches, dating gurus, medical doctors and even our youth sharing their thoughts, bringing PS to television is a huge break-thru for those living with Vitiligo. Some will be ordinary working folk sharing their personal and intriguing stories of this pigment disorder.


There will be others from behind the scenes in the entertainment industry who will give up some gossip and give us a closer to look at their lives in and out of Hollywood.Some days living with vitiligo feels like a curse and I just want to smoothe over the white spots with permanent bronzer. BUT THEN..other days, I feel so good to look different and to attract curious people. It's a great way to meet some really nice and decent folk who either are encouraged by me or really are interested in understanding vitiligo.

Nana always told me to make lemonade from lemons. All of us know that old school term!To be quite honest, hosting Pecan Swirl is my own therapeutic recipe and a breather from heavy make up on my face and hands. Not to have to wear make-up on my hands to hide the "real" me is refreshing some days. Of course as an Entertainment/Reality show host, I know that America is not ready, at least not right now for a host with Vitiligo on national TV with no cover up. FOr those that know me, I dare them to challenge me to be the first!! :-)I do have hope..don't you?

Yes it is true! Our first filming of "Pecan Swirl" begins on June 19th 2008.I decided that while I am beating the pavement to find an Agent that will work with me as an Entertainment Host, secure tv/cable contract and while searching for a bullet-proof health insurance plan (the 3 most important things u need in Hollywood :-) , I would begin sharing my life and that of others living with vitiligo to Southern Californians. (there will be more info to come later)I wanted to use one of the most powerful communication tools on earth, TELEVISION to partner with this blog and create some visual movement. The show is titled , "Pecan Swirl" and it will feature amazing and well, different kind of folk who all live with Vitiligo.

From professional make-up artists from MAC to life coaches, dating gurus, medical doctors and even our youth sharing their thoughts, bringing PS to television is a huge break-thru for those living with Vitiligo.Some will be ordinary working folk sharing their personal and intriguing stories of this pigment disorder. There will be others from behind the scenes in the entertainment industry who will give up some gossip and give us a closer to look at their lives in and out of Hollywood.Some days living with vitiligo feels like a curse and I just want to smoothe over the white spots with permanent bronzer.

BUT THEN..other days, I feel so good to look different and to attract curious people. It's a great way to meet some really nice and decent folk who either are encouraged by me or really are interested in understanding vitiligo. Nana always told me to make lemonade from lemons. All of us know that old school term!To be quite honest, hosting Pecan Swirl is my own therapeutic recipe and a breather from heavy make up on my face and hands. Not to have to wear make-up on my hands to hide the "real" me is refreshing some days.

Of course as an Entertainment/Reality show host, I know that America is not ready, at least not right now for a host with Vitiligo on national TV with no cover up. FOr those that know me, I dare them to challenge me to be the first!! :-)I do have hope..don't you?