Brownie, I'm And I Will

Nobody is the colour of translucent powder. Instead, choose a powder that matches your skin tone. By Bobbie Brown.

Every now and then I hear tips how I can transform my brownish skin tone to a better fair looking one. Like dark skin is a badge of shame. Huge chunk of products, be it herbal or those with rich chemicals are vehemently sold by different brands that promise us to give a HD glow on our face with perfection. Take the example of 'Fair and Lovely' that sell their products using a social stigma. Its frequently-aired ads typically show a depressed woman with very few prospects gaining a brighter future by attaining a boyfriend or job after becoming markedly fairer. Hence here the miracle worker is this pack of fairness cream. Why only ads, the matrimonial sites are no less skeptical of the darker skin tones. Hand in hand with the caste boundaries, families of the groom, specially, use the adjective “fair” in search of the brides that even precedes their professional qualifications.

Families are fine but as soon as victims like us step outside the house, there's a crowd of people to mock us. Once a lady in a grocery shop with the book titled "Becoming" by Michelle Obama on her hand out of nowhere, came up to advice me to use milk and honey which would make me 'gora'. Just think of the irony and tell me when people would stop making us feel unwanted? When would the relatives appreciate our own colour? When would others stop recommending us to buy fair and lovely? Even once my crush gave me the nickname 'avatar of Goddess Kali'.

Unfortunately we cannot change other's mindset. Neither can we stop us from listening to such ridiculous statements. What we can do is to grow an inner strength to fight back such stereotypical comments. Don't reply when others say 'No one likes to marry a dusky'! Work hard and empower yourself like anything. Never forget that marriage doesn't depend on skin tone; then Nick Jonas wouldn't tie his knot with the ever beautiful dark-skinned Indian actress Priyanka Chopra.

Self-esteem and self love is all that matters. I too once blamed myself and for this unlucky unfair life. But I survived because I did not indulge myself in self-stigmatization. It is the most important stumbling blocks for someone to fight against any criticism. Its that heart of gold and stardust soul that makes us beautiful, colour shades doesn't matter.

However this does not mean not taking care of your body and skin. All skin tones are exquisite. They just need the right buddy. Many beauty companies now are trying to support this equal treatment towards all skin shades and media portrays them very well. One of them is the famous fit me Maybelline foundation which cordially invites all girls out there to praise their own beauty. I personally use it and every time I use it I feel like a proud princess who is respected not only for her outer appearance but also for her innate beauty.