The long history of racist beauty standards alone cannot explain the ongoing global use of harmful skin lighteners.
Beauty
Arts, Culture and Sport Ghana: David Daka the photographer behind iconic images of black women celebrating 10-year reunion
This Is Africa spoke to Ghanaian photographer, David Daka who is behind the viral images of a group of beautiful black women, members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, who came together to celebrate their friendship, and journey through life. TIA also spoke to a member of the sorority.
Lifestyle Zozibini Tunzi crowned Miss Universe South Africa’s third win at the pageant
South Africa is on a roll with 26-year-old Zozibini Tunzi becoming the third South African overall to wear the prestigious Miss Universe crown. In the last five years the country has clinched the title twice after Angola’s win in 2011 and Botswana’s in 1999.
Arts, Culture and Sport In Nigeria, dreadlocks are entangled with beliefs about danger
Nigerian men who wear their hair in knots are not a new phenomenon, but the hairstyle’s spiritual heritage sparks fear in the hearts of many.
Lifestyle Why the ‘Miss Curvy Pageant’ is an assault on Ugandan women
Uganda’s tourism ministry has launched a beauty pageant to use local women to attract tourists.
Lifestyle Curvy or not, all women should be celebrated
Recent comments made by Uganda’s Minister for Tourism, when he described curvy women as potential tourist attractions, have brought the debate around the objectification of women back into the spotlight.
African identities Rwanda is the latest African country to ban bleaching products
Rwanda has followed Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa in cracking down on skin bleaching products that contain chemicals like hydroquinone and mercury, which have been linked to skin cancer and kidney and liver damage.
Lifestyle American celebrity Blac Chyna selling bleaching cream in Nigeria
Imported Self Hate: Controversial American ex-entertainer Blac Chyna announced she will be in Nigeria to promote her new Whitenicious x Blac Chyna Collection, described as an “illuminating and brightening cream”. Blac Chyna has received extensive public backlash for “exploiting” Nigeria’s colourism problem.
Lifestyle Hello Movember! The new male beauty standard and solutions for problematic beards
Complicated beauty rituals are no longer a purely feminine preoccupation. The current male beauty standard demands a level of effort and curation that men have not been exposed to in the past. The pressure to attain this image ideal is even higher with social perceptions and stereotypes.