Singer Beyoncé Knowles has been lambasted in the media before about having her skin lightened in a major beauty advertisement. Beyoncé’s lightened skin was noted back in 2008, when she appeared markedly lighter in a L’Oreal Paris beauty ad for its Feria hair color product. Though the photo clearly shows a different complexion by many accounts, L’Oreal denied any lightening of her skin, according to Guardian News.
The recent controversy about Beyoncé’s lightened skin surrounds a picture of the singer on her newest album cover. In the photo, Beyoncé dons blonde locks and very pale skin, almost appearing as a different person completely. What’s most strange is that her legs and other parts of her body appear darker than her face and neck.
Though many are saying her skin was artificially lightened in some way (whether by Photoshopping or makeup) for this photo as a way to appeal to mainstream tastes, others blame lighting for the situation. However, if the photographer had concerns about strange lighting issues, why not correct the problem during the photo shoot?
Regardless of the correct explanation, this photo and its implications seem to have sparked a new discussion, among blacks and whites alike, about color issues in the black community. Some female advocates think that young black girls who look up to Beyoncé may feel the need to lighten their skin to be more beautiful and camera-worthy. Back in 2010, Indian actress Aishwarya Rai was outraged when she learned that her darker skin tone had been digitally lightened to a very pale hue on the cover of Elle magazine.
Beyoncé and her management have yet to release a statement on her lightened skin in the photo.