An actor and model with vitiligo has blamed his skin condition for his lack of TV offers and says he has been forced to take a job in a supermarket.
Daniel Ruenes has gone from appearing on the box and in fashion shows to stacking shelves at his local shop.
The 25-year-old launched his career in 2021 after restrictions eased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Daniel, who has had the skin condition vitiligo his whole life, left his hometown in Colombia to move to Mexico.
He then took part in multiple productions for the TV channel Televisa and was selected as an ambassador for several skincare brands.
Daniel appeared on several daytime TV shows to talk about his modelling career and his vitiligo condition.
He even strutted the catwalk at Fashion Week Mexico.
But his career has fallen on hard times, and he now works as a cashier and shelf stacker.
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“Imagine the impact of earning £780 (MXN 20,000) a day to £78 (MXN 2,000) for a whole week,” Daniel told What’s The Jam.
“I’ve been working at the convenience store for about five months, and I’ve learned a lot.
“With the little money I earn, because that’s the reality, I earn very little, I’ve been able to survive and move forward.
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“The world of fashion, catwalks, and film sets involves working with so many different brands, and sometimes, it just goes away.
“Opportunities stop coming your way, and you despair because nothing’s happening.”
Daniel admitted that the supermarket role has been a “saving grace” as it allows him to pay his bills.
But he says his skin condition is a “limiting factor” when it comes to receiving acting offers.
Daniel said: “I am a warrior of life who, despite adversity, is strong but broken at the same time.
“I simply want to pursue my dreams.
“Being alone, it feels like I can’t take it anymore, or so my mind says.
“But I just want a chance to do things right, I am different, and I accept that.
“But being different is not bad, being different can help you accomplish what you want to achieve.”
Modelling work is still trickling in, and Televisa is set to broadcast a couple of productions featuring Daniel in the coming weeks.
The model said: “I’ve done several campaigns and appeared on TV spots.
“I’m still at Televisa, where I auditioned and landed two projects, but they haven’t come out yet.”
Vitiligo is a long-term condition where pale white patches develop on the skin due to the loss of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour.
It is caused by the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin.
While it’s not life-threatening or contagious, it can affect a person’s self-esteem and lead to feelings of self-consciousness.
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