Addressing Psoriasis™ Winners

She didn't back down
Stephanie Waits
Age 22, San Francisco, Calif.

Even in the visual chaos of San Francisco, Stephanie Waits has a reputation for legwear that stands out.

"I get noticed for my leggings and stockings in a lot of colors and textures," she says. "Anywhere I go that I know sells clothes, I look immediately [for tights]. They are like gemstones."

Stephanie began wearing tights to cover psoriasis plaques on her legs. Now, with more than 50 pairs of leggings and stockings in her wardrobe, they're a fashion statement.

Newly graduated with a women's studies degree, Stephanie says developing her own style while dealing with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis has taught her a lot about how disease, culture and identity are entwined.

"There is no one standard to beauty. It's easy to get caught up with that in our media and celebrity-obsessed society," she says. "But each person is beautiful. Having psoriasis is one part of who you are—it's not everything."

When she first saw an e-mail about the Addressing Psoriasis™ contest, Stephanie put it aside, thinking, "That's great but it's not for me." The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she wasn't following the very advice she would give someone else.

"In women's studies you learn that everyone has to be their own first step in change. I am active in all these other issues that don't relate to me specifically, and then I was thinking about backing down from something I have lived with every day since I can remember.

"If I had seen psoriasis in the media or in public when I was growing up it really would have helped me. Visibility is the key to awareness."