Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Page.
Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Erika Page, Founder and CEO of Living Dappled, a media brand and community for women with vitiligo. For those who aren’t familiar, vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes loss of pigment in the skin and hair. About 1% of the world’s population has it. It’s not contagious, there’s no cure, but there are treatments. You may know vitiligo from Michael Jackson or Winnie Harlow. I developed vitiligo at age seven and lost 100% of my skin’s pigment by my twenties. I’m still losing pigment in my hair and eyelashes today. Growing up, I struggled with stares, low self-esteem, and a body that was changing before my eyes.
In my twenties, at one of my lowest points, I searched online for resources and didn’t find the support I needed. That’s when I decided to create it myself. I combined my professional background in marketing and communications with my lived experience to launch Living Dappled—a digital safe haven for women with vitiligo to feel seen, supported, and understood. Everything we do is created by, with, and for the community, which fosters trust, engagement, and authentic connection. Our audience connects with us through our website, social media, and weekly email newsletter.
Today, Living Dappled is scaling as a media brand and co-creating the world we want to see with our community. We continue to expand impact through educational resources, storytelling, digital products, and events—all designed to help women with vitiligo feel empowered, informed, and confident while building a lasting, supportive network.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would like to meet the person who says yes! For the first eight years of Living Dappled, I was running the blog and business part-time, fitting it into late hours after work, early mornings before work and everything in-between. That often looked like having a smaller social life, never knowing what was trending on Netflix, and drinking a lot of coffee. It wasn’t easy—and it required a lot of dedicated consistency and learning the business in real-time. For example—I didn’t know what a media kit was the first time a sponsor asked me for one. I Googled it and made one that night and sent it over the next morning, holding my breath that it was right.
There was one time I almost gave up. It was during COVID–I had been diagnosed with COVID on a Thursday, and got a positive pregnancy test on a Friday. I was so scared, and so sick. I had to step away from the business for about a month. I remember going to check my business bank account and it was empty—I had been hacked. I seriously thought that was my sign to quit. My husband just laughed, knowing that I would keep going. Within a month, the bank had restored the funds and I had secured enough sponsorships to be funded for the rest of that year.
I think what keeps me going when it gets hard is the “why.” This brand and mission is personal—because it’s about fighting for the little me who spent so many nights crying herself to sleep because of her skin. I’m fighting for her. But I’m also fighting for every girl after her.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Living Dappled?
Living Dappled is a media brand and community for women with vitiligo—helping them feel seen, supported and empowered through the everyday moments in life. Whether it’s the gym, office, a derm appointment, or a family photo, I want women with this condition to feel confident enough to live their life—no matter what their skin looks like.
We have our blog (livingdappled.com), and our community gets access to our free guide to confidence, an opportunity to submit skincare questions to our resident dermatologist, and a subscription to Living Dappled Weekly—a little dose of digital happy mail. We’re partnering with our own community co-create the resources they want, whether it’s educational resources, digital products, or events.
Today, Living Dappled has grown into a network of thousands of women around the world who finally have a place to connect over shared experiences. We’re the only community exclusively for women with vitiligo. We call ourselves ‘dappled darlings.’
The most exciting part for me is witnessing transformation—seeing women who once hid their skin share their journeys and embrace themselves more fully. It’s incredibly special to watch a community that was once so fragmented come together and realize they are not alone. Living Dappled has become more than a publication; it’s a safe-haven and a movement that celebrates self-love and confidence despite skin differences.
Looking ahead, we’re focused on creating more intimate, in-person gatherings where women can experience that connection face-to-face. At the same time, we’re expanding our free downloads and resources so that anyone, anywhere, can access support and tools to navigate life with vitiligo. These initiatives are about deepening connection and widening impact—two things that fuel both me and this community every single day.
How do you define success?
For me, success at Living Dappled isn’t about page views or follower counts—it’s about impact. It’s seeing women with vitiligo feel truly seen, supported, and confident in their own skin. It’s creating a space where they can find credible information, connect with others who understand them, and know they’re not alone. On a broader level, success is when our work—through storytelling, resources, and events—helps shift public understanding and awareness of vitiligo, giving this community a voice and representation in a world that often overlooks them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://livingdappled.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingdappled/
