Dark Is Beautiful

I used to be that girl that didn't appreciate herself. I used to be that girl that thought her dark skin was dirt that needs to be washed away. I used to adore fair-skinned people and always asked to God why I was not born in that skin.

In other words, I used to be ignorant.

Ever since I was born, I was teased and bullied for my skin colour. These taunts came from school mates, relatives, cousins and even someone who I thought was my best friend. These actions are the product of the Eurocentric society we live in today.

I am a Malaysian of Indian (Tamil) descent. The both cultures that represent me are known for their obsession for fairness. Even though Tamils are known to have dark skin due to their Dravidian roots, Tamilians adore fair skin and it is very evident in the thousands of movies produced every year by Kollywood, Tamil Nadu's film industry. A dark hero might be accepted into commercial films but a fair heroine is an asset . Being 'dusky' might get you some roles if you are lucky but forget about acting in India if you are dark and if you are not willing to succumb to societal pressures which is to lighten your skin.

In fact, the only time any dark women are given any sort of role is to tease them as an ugly person. That is how movies instilled the notion that dark is bad and fair is good.

Besides, Malaysia's stores and shops are filled with fairness creams. Even those with extremely pale skin want their skin to look even pale. In other words, like a corpse. Everybody here admires women with fair skin.

I have had many terrible experiences regarding skin colour. I was teased and bullied by school mates. I was treated badly by relatives. Kids didn't want to play with me because they taught my skin had germs and they avoided me like a plague. There are many memories but I intend to forget them because the constant pondering on these type of memories only leaves one sad.

Few years ago, I never really exposed myself to any sort of problem in the world we live in today. Of course, I knew about poverty, human trafficking but never skin colour discrimination. For goodness sake, I used to think that it was ethical and sensible to use Fair and Lovely.

However, after another of the typical teasing I got at school, I went online to find out the source of this problem that I have faced since I was born. Why was it that people didn't like my skin colour? Why did they have to be so mean to me even if I had not done anything at all to them?There were many questions that lingered in my head. It was answered.

Frankly, that was the best thing I have ever done.

I saw videos of fairness creams and how people criticized the advertisements. I saw videos of how dark skin people had gone through the same circumstances as me. I also realized it was a problem for all women of colour like Africans . People from all over the world told how racist these type of ads were and I realised it how dumb I was.

Somehow, I felt that I was not alone. After all the tears that I had wasted, I realised that I am not facing this battle alone.

The real eye-opener was a documentary by Anita Rani, a British-Indian journalist who explored the who,why,when,how,etc. of this issue that is a constant problem for Indian women. After watching it , I became a changed girl.

Now-a-days, I get angry when I see any fairness cream advertisements and I have learnt to adore my chocolate skin colour and slowly try to change the mindsets of the people around me however difficult it might be. They used to be me. People who think that fair skin is the only way to being beautiful.

I still get taunts and I have cried even after realising (because they are many mean things that people can say regarding colour ) and there is a limit to how one could deal with such pressure. I just tell myself that I am beautiful and should love the way God has created me. Even though I have not fully gotten over it, I am better and saner than I was before.

Now, I admire and adore everyone's beauty.

I hope this article can help other people around the world who also face this same problem. You are beautiful no matter what they say. If they do say anything hurtful, they are just jealous idiots :)

There is no need to change anything of your physique. If you have a long nose, so what? If you have small eyes, make the best of it. If you have albinism, colour-blindness or anything that others might tease on, forget those idiots. Embrace those "imperfections".

Beauty is not defined by the magazines, beauty is inside each and everyone . Beauty is not look like a carbon copy of a model from Vogue. Beauty is embracing yourself.

The documentary that changed my mindset. It consists of four videos. Don't forget !