For a long time now, the American-based Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o has embraced short hair as her hair-style.
However, back in November 2017, a British fashion publication edited her hair for purposes of appearing on their publication cover page. She got upset by the decision by the UK magazine to retouch and edit her natural hairstyle for the cover of Grazia.
According to Lupita, during the photoshoot her hair was actually pony-tailed. She shared the pictures she was taken during the photoshoot on her instagram wall, something that got her fans angered.
“I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too.” She said on Instagram on realizing the editing done on her hair.
“Being featured on the cover of a magazine fulfills me as it is an opportunity to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are. I am disappointed that @graziauk invited me to be on their cover and then edited out and smoothed my hair to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like,” she said.
She lamented that she should have been consulted on the matter, adding that she cannot condone the publication's omission of what is her native heritage.
“Had I been consulted; I would have explained that I cannot support or condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice,” said the disappointed Oscar-winning actress.
Her disappointed fans shared how they felt. Here are some comments:
Jacquelyne_sawo: Tell them.
Yvanahb: Wow! We all appreciate your transparency, honesty, and passion for equality of beauty in the industry ????????????
Sandracoleuk: We ARE Beauty?????????Am.en.
Ijeomanku: Beauty is best in its natural form dear.
Ijeomanku: Be you anytime. I like it real and natural.
Lupita is an Oscar award winning actress and traces her roots to Kisumu county.
#historynow