“People called me racist”: Melquizael Costa reveals impact of vitiligo ahead of biggest UFC fight

Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images

Melquizael Costa has spoken out about what it’s like to live with a widely misunderstood skin condition.

The up-and-coming UFC featherweight was diagnosed with vitiligo as a child. The condition isn’t contagious. It causes the loss of skin colour in patches due to melanocytes being destroyed or failing to function, which leaves white areas on the skin.

Michael Jackson is often associated with this same condition, which affects how pigment is produced in the skin.

Michael Jackson’s influence on Melquizael Costa

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

The Michael Jackson biopic quickly became a box-office hit after its release in April, drawing attention not just for its music but also for how it portrayed aspects of his life, including his skin condition.

Melquizael Costa, who lives with the same condition as the late pop icon, appreciated the film’s approach to telling that part of Jackson’s story.

“I’m a huge fan of Michael’s, and there’s a deep personal connection there,” Costa said during an interview with Bloody Elbow’s Filipe Guedes.

He went on to explain how that connection is still felt today. “A lot of people don’t know this, but there’s a World Vitiligo Day, and it falls on the day he died. So he’s become a symbol for everyone living with vitiligo.”

Costa added: “I really identified with the film. It was brilliant, and it was also helpful.”

Costa has faced similar assumptions about his own skin changes from people who don’t understand the condition.

“A lot of people still have this notion that Michael was racist, and I go through that myself today,” he said. “Even nowadays, I still face that. People have actually called me racist because my skin turned completely white.”