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Pia Miranda Had No Idea She Was Living With An Autoimmune Disease Until It Flared Up On 'Survivor'

“It’s a condition that needs lifelong management.” - by Lucy Bode
  • 04 Sep 2019

Pia Miranda didn’t realise she was suffering from Vitiligo until it was pointed out on national TV. Taking to Instagram this week, the 46-year-old opened up about how she came to be diagnosed with the autoimmune disease while appearing on Survivor thanks to some keen-eyed viewers who noticed subtle changes to her skin throughout the course of the season.

“A few people have been asking me about my skin on Survivor, and if you have been watching you may have noticed that it’s going through somewhat of a transformation,” she wrote.

“Well it turns out that whilst playing I had a flare up of an autoimmune condition called Vitiligo that I didn’t know I had. I was made aware of it but I decided to push through and not stress about it until I came home because… Survivor!”

RELATED: This Bride-To-Be Developed Vitiligo In The Lead Up To Her Wedding

_piamiranda View Profile
754 likes - View Post on Instagram
Planking is fun! 😭👎🏽🥵 730 tonight @SurvivorAU @survivorau

According to the Vitiligo Association of Australia, Vitiligo affects between 1 to 2 per cent of the population and is characterised by patches of skin that turn white or pale over time. It is usually associated with other AI conditions, such as thyroid disease and diabetes.

“Most people with vitiligo are in good health and have no symptoms other than areas of pigment loss,” they write on their website.

Still, the Looking For Alibrandi star admitted it was “confronting” to know that her skin was changing while being filmed sans makeup.

_piamiranda View Profile
2,396 likes - View Post on Instagram
A few people have been asking me about my skin on Survivor, and if you have been watching you may have noticed that it's going through somewhat of a transformation. Well it turns out that whilst playing I had a flare up of an Autoimmune condition called Vitiligo that I didn't know I had. 😕 I was made aware of it but I decided to push through and not stress about it until I came home because... Survivor! 💪🏽Since seeing a specialist I've been told that it's a condition that needs lifelong management, but I'm having some amazing treatment and it's working really well so I'm feeling very lucky. It's not ideal that it happened in real time on TV, as it was pretty confronting knowing I was being filmed, but I think what initially felt like a negative, can be a positive. So for anyone who might be suffering from Vitiligo or any other condition that makes you feel like you look less than perfect, I hope that watching me out there kicking butt on Survivor (and also getting my butt kicked 😂) without a stitch of makeup on, lifts your spirits. I'm thinking there are enough perfect looking people on TV, so I'm happy to offer an alternative and be someone who is perfectly fine with being imperfect. Anyway, a bit of a skin thing isn't going to stop me playing hard and having fun, so I hope you enjoy my journey because I sure did. (Except for the tower of terror, I did not enjoy that at ALL) 😂 Pia xxx ✔️✔️ Also I'm drinking out of a copper cup now because some random Ayurvedic website said it would help 🙄🙏🏼😂 ( yes I'm wearing makeup in this pic) 💄💋#vitiligo

“Since seeing a specialist I’ve been told that it’s a condition that needs lifelong management, but I’m having some amazing treatment and it’s working really well so I’m feeling very lucky,” she explained. “It’s not ideal that it happened in real time on TV, as it was pretty confronting knowing I was being filmed, but I think what initially felt like a negative, can be a positive.”

Pia added that the issue wasn’t going to stop her from “playing hard,” “having fun” and enjoying her reality TV journey.

“So for anyone who might be suffering from Vitiligo or any other condition that makes you feel like you look less than perfect, I hope that watching me out there kicking butt on Survivor (and also getting my butt kicked ????) without a stitch of makeup on, lifts your spirits,” she said. “I’m thinking there are enough perfect looking people on TV, so I’m happy to offer an alternative and be someone who is perfectly fine with being imperfect.”

Hear hear, Pia. Thanks for keeping it real.

RELATED: Venus Williams Opens Up About Her Battle With A Rare Autoimmune Disease

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Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

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