Lupita Nyong’o has spoken out against Grazia UK, a fashion publication, for retouching her natural hairstyle. The actress graced the cover of the British magazine’s November 2017 issue, where she appears with a shaved head. She says that she was surprised to find pictures of herself with a shaved head when her hair was styled in a loose ponytail for the photo shoot.
Nyong’o expressed her dissatisfaction on Thursday, writing on her Facebook wall: “I am disappointed that Grazia UK 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 says, adding that had she been consulted she would have said not participated in a project that alters her natural heritage.
“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 against black women’s complexion, hair style and texture.”
She accompanies the post with a set of pictures she took while at the Grazia photo shoot with her hair clearly held in a ponytail.
Nyong’o further writes that she hoped that by appearing on the cover of a magazine she would show other dark, kinky-haired people that they are beautiful just the way they are.
“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 writes.
Meanwhile Nyong’o’s fans have loaded Grazia UK’s Facebook page with insults over Photoshoping the star’s photo while others are demanding an apology from the magazine.
“It is pathetic and disgusting that you would ask Lupita to be on your cover only to edit out parts of the picture that defines who she is as a black woman, her hair and skin. Next time keep to your own light skinned straight haired types of people who according to you are the definition of beauty. You are disgusting,” complains a one Vonani Mashele.
“Why on earth would you Photoshop Lupita’s photos. We love and adore her dark skin and kinky hair. Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you for changing Lupita so you can sell more magazines. You owe her an apology,” a one Damarice Wathika posted.
Other celebrities who have spoken out magazines retouching their pictures include Priyanka chopra, Zendaya, Kerry Washington and Lorde.