Black ballerina with Vitiligo who shattered racial bias dies at 29

Internationally renowned Black ballerina, Michaela Mabinty DePrince, has passed away at the age of 29. 

Her life was one of incredible strength and resilience, from surviving a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone to becoming a leading voice for diversity in ballet. 

Born in 1995, Michaela lost both of her parents during Sierra Leone’s civil war. She was sent to an orphanage where she faced further rejection due to her vitiligo, a condition that caused patches of her skin to lose colour. 

The staff at the orphanage treated her cruelly, calling her “the devil’s child” and placing her last in line for food and clothes.

At the age of four, Michaela was adopted by an American family, and her life changed. 

She had always dreamed of becoming a ballerina after seeing a picture of one in a magazine. With her adoptive parents’ support, she started pursuing that dream. 

But the path was far from easy. 

As a Black ballerina, Michaela faced racism and rejection in a predominantly white industry. She was once told that her skin colour didn’t belong in ballet. 

Despite these obstacles, Michaela broke through. She trained at prestigious ballet schools and danced with world-renowned companies like the Dutch National Ballet and the Boston Ballet. 

She became a trailblazer, one of the few Black dancers to reach such heights in the ballet world. 

Throughout her career, Michaela spoke openly about the lack of diversity in ballet and the challenges faced by Black dancers.

And her advocacy went beyond ballet. She was committed to helping children affected by war, supporting organisations like War Child. 

Michaela also dreamed of opening a free arts school in Sierra Leone, hoping to give back to the country where her story began.

Michaela DePrince’s passing is a huge loss, not just to ballet but to everyone inspired by her journey. Her life was a reminder of the barriers that still exist for marginalised people, and her legacy will continue to inspire those fighting for a more inclusive world.