Brown skin is beautiful too

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD was told by children of the same age that she couldn’t be beautiful because she had dark skin and curly hair. This discrimination on skin colour is not new as I grew up hearing similar statements. But there was one thing different back then; I saw darker-skinned women on screen.

When I was younger, the Tamil film industry had talented and beautiful actresses like Banupriya, Radhika, Suhashini, Rohini, Madhavi, Shalini, Nanditha Das and Saritha who were darkskinned. They were all leading women with dozens of movies under their belt, and I grew up thinking Silk Smitha was the sexiest woman on screen.

Malay singers and actresses were darker-skinned or light brown as well, including Ziana Zain, Fauzia Latiff, Zaiton Sameon, Sharifah Aini, Sanisah Huri and Azizah Aziz. But looking at the current Malay actresses, I noticed there is hardly anyone with dark skin. In fact, some of the ladies mentioned earlier are now sporting fairer skin.

In the Tamil film industry, we have Amala Paul and Nayanthara in the leading ladies’ list, although the latter seems to be losing her dark skin tone as well.

I am aware of the preference for lighter skin tones but when did it become an obsession? And people wonder how brands promoting whitening products can get away with their advertisements.

Seriously, entertainers and the entertainment industry need to start acting more responsibly but why would they when they themselves have launched whitening creams even for children?

The Health Ministry’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Department (NPRA) has been increasing its efforts to ban cosmetic products that contain harmful substances like mercury and hydroquinone, which are typically marketed for skin lightening. Yet people still purchase these products and never ask if they have been certified by the regulatory boards.

I would advise parents with dark-skinned children to start showing their kids inspiring, fashionable everyday women on Instagram. Check out #browngirl, #darkskin, #darkskingoddess, #unfairandlovely, #browngirlmag, #browngirlsrock and many others to inspire your children.

Everyone is beautiful in one’s own way, no matter what colour, type of hair or body one has.