‘I Wished And Prayed To Be Darker,’ Pearl Thusi On Being Teased For Her Light Skin As A Child

Whilst it seems bleaching skin to become lighter has been the trend for a long time and the lighter you are the prettier you are considered, life is not all rosey for those who were born light skinned or at least for Pearl Thusi growing up. ‘I wished and prayed to be darker,’ Pearl Thusi on being teased for her light skin as a child.

In a recent post on social media, Pearl opened up about wanting so bad to be darker as child after being bullied for her naturally lighter  complexion.

“Being taunted “You only seem pretty because you’re light. You wouldn’t be pretty if you were dark.” I wished and prayed to be darker. To be accepted. But the sun laughed at my peeling skin revealing a fresh layer of it’s true form because even she couldn’t burn me hard enough. I didn’t want to be different. I didn’t want to be a target,” Pearl wrote.

Pearl has now become comfortable in her own skin as we know her and she is encouraging other women to do the same. “I wasn’t dark enough, but I grew a proud, black African woman. But because I know who I am, where I am from and where I am going- I can wear ANY colour with pride. What’s beneath my skin is what truly defines me. Be who you are. Who you choose to be. Be who you feel compelled to be to meet your destiny.”

Colour has always been such a big part of my life. As a child, being teased by other kids. That’s how I became aware of the colour of my skin. That it was different. Being taunted “You only seem pretty because you’re light. You wouldn’t be pretty if you were dark.” I wished and prayed to be darker. To be accepted. But the sun laughed at my peeling skin revealing a fresh layer of it’s true form because even she couldn’t burn me hard enough. I didn’t want to be different. I didn’t want to be a target. Thanks to my parents- I learnt to love and accept the way I looked and I had to defend and represent the authenticity of my blackness with my actions. You’re heritage, culture, tribe and any other type of validation isn’t determined by the colour of your skin. I wasn’t dark enough, but I grew a proud, black African woman. But because I know who I am, where I am from and where I am going- I can wear ANY colour with pride. What’s beneath my skin is what truly defines me. Be who you are. Who you choose to be. Be who you feel compelled to be to meet your destiny. Your colour has little to do with it compared to your determination. Be a warrior. Man or woman. Black or white. We are one. Our colours can unite harmoniously to make a motherland so strong and indivisible that the beauty is envied by all the universe ? . ? @bellisima81 . ? @islandboiphotography . ?? @_blackpearlhair .

A post shared by Pearl Thusi (@pearlthusi) on Apr 19, 2017 at 10:17pm PDT