PRETTY FOR A DARK SKIN? | NAH, JUST PRETTY.

Hey loves,

This post is dedicated to all my dark skinned queens that have been told way too many times “you’re pretty for a dark skin”. But, before I dive straight in, it’s important that the intention of my post is made very clear. I don’t wish to divide black women even more, but the whole pretty for a dark skin statement just doesn’t sit right with me.

Growing up, my skin colour was never an issue. In fact the only insecurities I had were to do with my features and my weight- which only surfaced when I reached secondary school. I didn’t question my physical appearance until a group of older girls in my school bullied me for the way I looked. But, we shall save that story for another time.

As years passed and I ‘glowed up’, I started to receive compliments on my appearance. The compliments were sweet and straight to the point. I received compliments such as “you’re so beautiful” or “you’ve got such amazing skin”. However, it was only when I started sixth form that the whole dark skinned term came into play. It’s actually funny because before sixth form I didn’t categorise myself as a dark skinned female.

I was 17 when I got my first backhanded compliment. I was at the bus stop and this guy approached me and said “You’re choong for a dark skin girl”. For those of you that don’t know, the term choong was heavily thrown around when I was younger and it’s the same as saying someone looks good.

Like, what does that even mean? : /

I honestly believed that it would be the first and last time I heard such nonsense, but no I was completely wrong. It became a regular occurrence, especially from black males. One guy even had the cheek to approach me at a party and say “You’re pretty for a dark skin, your the prettiest dark skin girl I’ve ever met”. I honestly couldn’t believe it. I asked him “why couldn’t you just say that I was pretty?”. To which he replied “sorry, yeah you’re pretty”.

Could I really be annoyed at him or others for feeling that way? When even the media frequently uses light skinned women in beauty adverts and everything else. It’s as if we are all being programmed to believe that darker women are unattractive, which definitely isn’t the case.

That’s why I was more than happy to take part in the pretty for a dark skin remix video.

Check out the beautiful lady behind it all and follow her story.

Instagram- princesslatifahofficial

I will just like to end this by saying: A PERSON’S SKIN TONE SHOULDN’T SIGNIFY BEAUTY. ALL WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL REGARDLESS OF SKIN TONE BECAUSE BEAUTY COMES IN ALL SHADES.

Lots of love,

Joy x

#selflove #darkskin #pretty #love #beautiful #queens