Frankie Just Gym It opens up on long battle with vitiligo
Kenyan fitness influencer and founder of Just Gym It, Frankie Kiarie, widely known as Frankie Just Gym It, has shared his lifelong experience living with vitiligo, a pigmentation condition that he was born with.
Speaking during a candid conversation on the latest episode of the Mic Cheque podcast, released Sunday, July 20, 2025, Frankie candidly said that the condition has manifested in irregular, white patches that now cover much of his body, including subtle areas like his lips and mouth.
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He added that he had a full body confirmation via a dermatologist in Israel, adding that they are only made visible when examined under a black light.
“I have vitiligo. I was told I had it since birth, but the crazy thing is I went to a dermatologist when I was in Israel, and they checked my whole body. I have it everywhere, it’s something I was born with, no cure, not a disease or illness, not something that hurts…no! It’s just a pigmentation defect,” he said.
“If you put me under a black light, there is this special light they put on; it is all over my lips, my mouth.”
Frankie went on to say that he has noticed new patches emerging over time, never fading, just spreading.
“What I have noticed is that with time, I see new ones popping up; it does not go away,” he added.
When asked if his skin is sensitive to temperature, the fitness guru said that the condition has not impacted the normal functioning of his skin, he described it simply as an erratic pigmentation.
“No, literally everything functions exactly how it’s supposed to; it is just that my skin tone is erratic,” he explained.
How did he find out
This is not the first time he has spoken about battling vitiligo, in July 2020, the fitness enthusiast, in his vlog, disclosed that he noticed his skin defect just a few years ago after a female fan sent him a direct message on Instagram telling him how proud she is to see him showcase his body despite the imperfections.
He went on to say that after diving into research to understand his condition.
“I just thought it was birthmarks because I never really thought much into it until I researched and got acquainted with it. If you get it at an older age, that’s when it’s dangerous, causing diabetes and all,” he shared.
What is vitiligo
Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition characterised by the loss of pigment, resulting in white or lighter patches on the skin. This occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour, are destroyed or stop functioning.
The exact cause of vitiligo remains unclear, but it is widely believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks melanocytes.
