MEET ARIANA
Daniella Boima Garrick ,Miss Albinism Africa 2025 . She stands tall and hopeful in a world that too often struggles to embrace difference. Her story is not just about overcoming obstacles; it is about daring to exist boldly, to illuminate what too many keep in the shadows.
Growing up in Sierra Leone, Daniella remembers how the world would pause and stare, whisper, question her belonging. “It wasn’t always easy to look in the mirror and love what I saw,” she confesses.
She wasn’t just facing the challenges of being young and different; she was shouldering the sting of exclusion that so many with albinism know too well. In Africa, where the prevalence of albinism is particularly high – up to 1 in 1,400 in some countries : myths, stigma, and risk of violence remain disturbingly common.
But as Daniella’s journey unfolded, so did her resolve. Advocacy was born when she realized she was not alone: “Meeting other people with albinism who were going through the same thing… I realised I wasn’t the only one feeling invisible in a world full of eyes. That’s when advocacy became personal.”
Her mother played an instrumental role; giving Daniella the grounding to hold her head high and assurance that she was never a mistake, no matter what the world might say. Now, crowned Miss Albinism Africa, Daniella sees the title not just as an honour, but as a deep responsibility.
“Wearing the crown isn’t just a celebration, it’s also a responsibility. It reminds me of the young girls who are still hiding, who are still covering their skin in shame. I want to be someone they can look at and say, ‘Maybe I don’t have to hide anymore.’’ – Daniella Boima Garrick
Across the globe, Daniella is not alone in her fight. Her journey reflects the resilience seen in international champions like Salif Keita, the Malian musician who declared, “It gives me the perspective I have today. It has made me who I am.” Kenyan Senator Isaac Mwaura further echoes that complexity, saying, “We are not black enough to be considered Black, not white enough to be considered white, and not disabled enough to be considered disabled.” Their voices join Daniella’s, carrying a mosaic of pride and pain that shapes the global albinism experience.
Daniella’s advocacy draws strength from such voices and her own lived courage. From standing on the fashion runway as Sierra Leone’s first female model with albinism, to serving as Safeguarding, Welfare Gender Officer at SIERRA LEONE ASSOCIATION FOR PERSONS WITH ALBINISM (SLAPWA), to leadership roles in major disability organizations. She brings visibility, pride, and hope to a new generation.
Like fellow Sierra Leonean advocate Mohamed Osman Kamara, Daniella sends a clear message: “Albinism does not transform me, it changes my shading but rather that in no way implies that I am any lesser than you. I am as yet fit for doing everything which an individual of customary shading can do.”
Yet, advocacy is not a path walked alone. Supporting Daniella and people with albinism everywhere takes a collective commitment:
Educate yourself and your community: Break down persistent myths about albinism through stories, learning, and honest conversation.
Uplift diversity: Celebrate and share stories of people with albinism. Challenge biases, stereotypes, and shaming, both online and off.
Support advocacy organizations: Groups like the Sierra Leone Association for Persons With Albinism (SLAPWA), Under the Same Sun, and similar organizations work tirelessly on education, protection, and access to health care.
Contribute resources and voices: Donate, volunteer, and amplify campaigns that provide sunscreen, healthcare, educational scholarships, employment support, and legal advocacy.
We can choose to stand up, speak up: Advocate for laws and policies that honour the rights and wellbeing of all people, regardless of difference. Today, you too can use your platform, however small, to ensure representation and dignity.
Daniella’s life is both a personal triumph and a rallying call. She shows us that difference is not a deficit, but a source of power, pride, and unique beauty. Her wish is simple but profound for every young girl who feels the need to hide, for every person who has questioned their worth because of how they look, to know this: You are allowed to take up space, to be beautiful, to be bold, to speak your truth even if your voice shakes.
Daniella’s story like those of champions worldwide; is evidence that the world grows kinder, stronger, and more radiant when we choose to embrace, protect, and celebrate one another.
