“My video was not mocking Whitney”: Winnie Harlow denies deriding Whitney Houston amid Halloween costume backlash

Winnie Harlow spent the weekend defending her Halloween tribute to Whitney Houston after it sparked controversy online. The model posted a clip of herself channeling Houston’s look from the 2001 BET Awards, a performance long viewed as one of the singer’s more vulnerable public appearances. At the time, Houston’s fragile frame and uneven stage presence fueled growing concern about her health and reported drug use.

Houston, who died in 2012 at just 48, was later found to have drowned accidentally, with heart disease and cocaine use noted as contributing factors. As reported by the Daily Mail, many fans accused Winnie Harlow of capitalizing on Houston’s struggles instead of celebrating her musical brilliance. Responding to the criticism, Winnie Harlow shared her side of the story on Instagram.

“My video wasn’t mocking Whitney. That clip has always been one of my favorites, she was radiant, funny, confident, and captivating. She was being awarded. The way she moved across that stage with flair and swag? Iconic,” she explained.

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Winnie Harlow and the complexity of honoring Whitney Houston’s legacy

Winnie Harlow also revealed a personal reason behind her admiration for Houston.

“My mother is one of her biggest fans and named me Whitney after her, that’s my real legal name. She’s always been a queen in my house,” she wrote.

She ended her message with a heartfelt reflection on Houston’s legacy.

“People are more than headlines. A woman who could command a room, make you laugh & carry herself like royalty. If all you see when you see Whitney are her struggles, you’re missing her charisma, humor, talent, personality, & wit. She was hilarious & magnetic. THAT is and what should always be highlighted. The light that made us all love her attention to positivity.”

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Winnie Harlow turned an insult into art with her Neapolitan ice cream Halloween look

Winnie Harlow once again proved she knows how to turn negativity into something sweet. As reported by the Daily Mail on November 1, 2025, the Canadian model responded to critics who’ve mocked her skin condition, vitiligo, by dressing up as a Neapolitan ice cream for Halloween. Leading the guest list at Vas J Morgan and Michael Braun’s celebrity-filled Halloween party, Harlow fully embraced the comparison that haters had thrown her way for years.

“Since y’all always say I look like Neapolitan Ice Cream... I guess you’re right,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing photos of her pink-and-brown dripping outfit, a look that reflected her trademark mix of wit and individuality. She went on to say,

“I love turning things people say about me or others with Vitiligo into a positive. From doing 101 Dalmatians to Cheetara, Neapolitan might be my favorite.”

Vitiligo is a lifelong skin condition that causes lighter patches due to the loss of pigment. For Harlow, the effect isn’t something she chooses to hide but rather a part of her identity she celebrates. Fans loved the look, filling her comments with admiration for both her creativity and the powerful message behind it.

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Winnie Harlow unveiled her first Madame Tussauds wax figure on world vitiligo day

Winnie Harlow unveiled her wax figure, dressed in a golden outfit matching her own. The model unveiled her very first Madame Tussauds figure on June 25 at the New York museum, and the resemblance was spot-on. Dressed in a glittering gold Zuhair Murad minidress that matched her statue’s netted outfit, Harlow couldn’t stop smiling as she posed next to her wax twin.

The reveal was perfectly timed with World Vitiligo Day, a global event dedicated to raising awareness of the condition that causes patches of skin to lose pigment. It’s something Harlow has turned into part of her identity and message of empowerment. Earlier that morning on NBC’s Today show, she spoke about learning to embrace her differences.

“I would like people to know that being different is a super power and also we are all different, every single one of us, and to own that and to love that, as long as you own who you are and love who you are, the world is your oyster,” she shared.

During the interview, Winnie Harlow was visibly moved as producers played clips from fans with vitiligo thanking her for her advocacy.

“I just feel so grateful that we have someone like you who is paving the way for those of us with vitiligo,” one viewer said.

“To have someone so beautiful, who is so bold, who is so inspiring, it means the world to me and I know it means so much to so many more.” added the viewer.

It underscored Harlow’s evolution from facing criticism to celebrating her distinct identity.