Rochelle Humes: ‘I tried to scrub my skin off’
This Morning’sstunning presenter, Rochelle Humes, broke down recently, as she recalled a devastating truth about her childhood…
It’s set to be a busy Autumn for the Humes family as Rochelle and Marvin’s third child, a baby boy, is due in October. The couple, who often present on This Morning, already have two girls – Alaia-Mai, seven, and Valentina, three – but, speaking recently on a new Channel 4 documentary, The Talk, Rochelle opened up about her childhood…
Alongside other famous black Britons, she recalled ‘the talk’ she had with her parents aged seven, about the colour of her skin and the racism she may face growing up in Britain.
‘I was told by a friend that I couldn’t go to her party because I was black,’ she recalled. Later that night, she remembers, in a breaking voice, ‘I’d tried to scrub my skin off in the bath.’ Then she added: ‘I’m not upset for me, I’m just upset because my little girl is the same age. I just don’t know how I would handle that.’
Recalling more about her childhood, she explained: ‘I grew up with my mum’s side of the family, the white side, and with my sister, who is white. People would constantly say to her, “Oh, you look like your aunt, or you cousin”, and to me they would say: “Rochelle, you look… pretty”. I grew up feeling very different.’
Over the years, the feeling of being different, although not intentional, was instilled.
‘For us, as parents of black girls, when is the right time for that conversation with them?’ her husband, Marvin, asked.
The former Saturdays singer continued, ‘I don’t want my children growing up in a world where they think that their heritage and skin colour could be judged negatively.’
Sitting with his choreographer brother, Ashley, Diversitydancer-turned-TV-presenter, Jordan Banjo, who also appeared on the programme, added: ‘I don’t think our white friends ever went home and had to have the conversation, “Why do I feel different? Why do I look different?” I hope these conversations now, mean I will never have “the talk” with my kids.’
He added what is important for us all to remember: ‘That those life lessons to push forward, to try harder, to be more – apply anyway, not just in the context of race.’
The Talk is available on catch-up, on All4.
‘I couldn’t go to a friend’s party because I was black’