Under Spotlight

A red knit hood envelops Yvesmark’s head as he stares unflinchingly down the lens of the camera. Escaping from the light and sound, he finds himself tucked away among green leaves that hold him gently in their midst. He closes his eyes and turns away, soaking in the sparse sunlight that filters through the branches, reflecting on every moment, both good and bad, that led to him being here now.

To stand out is to be separate from the crowd, to have a light shone on you. Yvesmark has experienced the warmth of that light through modelling, as well as its blinding glare in childhood. Growing up in Philadelphia with Vitiligo wasn’t easy. He endured teasing, was ignored, and even had people refuse to touch him, as if they were afraid that his skin condition was contagious. Here in Paris, he commands attention. “I’ll never forget the looks of admiration we received walking through the streets of Paris,” he shared. “But the moment that stayed with me the most was when a child asked me to take a photo with them. That touched me deeply…Moments like that remind me why I do what I do”

Empty crates create a shield from the street. Clad in a blue fur coat and low-slung jeans, Yvesmark has emerged from the shadows of the leaves into the sunshine of the street. “My story is one of survival and perseverance,” he shares. “I truly believe you can become whatever you set your mind to. Once you think it, it’s already in motion. Growing up in the tough city of Philadelphia taught me that my environment does not limit me. My vision and determination define me.” Far from Philadelphia to the nooks and crannies of Paris, he’s ready to step out from behind the wall of crates and soak up the spotlight.