As society has grown to be more social media conscience, and camera phones have become permanent fixtures in everyday life, it appears everyone is constantly striving to look their best. But what exactly does the “best” entail? If recent reports are any indicator, plastic surgery and perhaps skin lightening are at the forefront of the quest for acceptance and desirability. It’s a concerning issue that has not discriminated, latching on to the insecurities of everyday people and celebrities alike.
A recent interview with Bossip saw Tamar Braxton and husband Vincent Herbert address longstanding rumors surrounding the reality star/singer’s complexion. In the on camera sit down she said, “I just want to know what time do I have to do that. If you really think about it, we’ve been shooting ‘Braxton Family Values’ for two years and then in between that it was ‘Tamar & Vince,’ and now we’re back into production with ‘Braxton Family Values.’ So when did she change her face? I just think I grew up and I don’t look the same that I did when I was 19. I don’t think any of us do.” Her husband quickly came to her defense dismissing the claims as being “ignorant” and “not appropriate”. He also revealed Tamar suffers from vitiligo, the same skin condition Michael Jackson publicly struggled with.
A young Tamar Braxton
These are rumors that have oft and unfairly plagued celebrities–everyone from Emily B to Beyoncé, and most recently, Nicki Minaj have been accused of going under the knife or indulging in brightening cream. This plays into the shameful myth that lighter skin somehow equates to success; and in order to achieve mainstream popularity, female brown skinned celebrities aim for fairer skin. It’s a part of the ever-growing issue of meeting an unrealistic standard of beauty, which unfortunately isn’t limited to complexion.
We recently featured a viral video of a woman showcasing her botched butt job. In the clip we see her clad in a red thong flipping what appears to be an implant. It’s a troubling sight that is a bit difficult to watch.
General concern is frequently aimed at the youth, and taking preventative measures to help ensure a healthy body image. Yet, imagine their difficulty to take heed to said warnings when they witness adult women who are inherently of sound mind, feeling the pangs of insecurity as well.
Valeria Lukyonova The “Human Barbie”
We all want to put our best face forward. When you look good, you feel good. The question then becomes, how far would you go for beauty?
~Cliché
December 12, 2012 11:56 am
this is really scary and sad. we need to do better and take responsibility.
December 12, 2012 11:59 am
The females mentioned are just EXTRA period! You have to be fake in the industry if you wanna make it to the top…shrug. Tamar know she had surgery. To me,the problem is too much makeup.
December 12, 2012 11:59 am
I don’t want to call Tamar a liar because that’s what people did to MJ and he really had the disease. But she doesn’t even look like herself and most people do look like they did at 19, just older. More than anything, I feel sorry for people like this. Life is really too precious and too short to live like that.
December 12, 2012 12:00 pm
@Shoeorgasm, who need to do better?
December 12, 2012 12:04 pm
Woe! Valeria Lukyonova really does look like a life size Barbie doll, I wonder how many surgeries she had to have to get that final look?
December 12, 2012 12:05 pm
Not far, I’m already cute and happy with me flaws and all. I don’t think Tamar lightens her skin, I think she just needs to head to her local MAC/Bobbi Brown counter and get the right NC or NW shade. But she has clearly put in an application for a nose job as did Beyonce and Halle and Janet and many, many of these “perfect” women some of us try to emulate. They don’t even wake up looking like that, so why should anyone else expect to, alas they do.
December 12, 2012 12:09 pm
I blame society for this light-skinned upcession and the “need” to be perfect. When you watch tv, open a magazine, browse online, or whatever there is always a light skinned beauty, rarely a darker beauty, rarely a big girl, or just rarely a ordinary chick. Society is forcing beauty.
Follow me on instagram spidalegs
December 12, 2012 12:14 pm
The irony is that ALL the people (men and women) who have gone to extremes for beauty, end up not being beautiful AT ALL; and everyone can clearly see the fakeness … so what’s the point?
December 12, 2012 12:14 pm
Not far, I’m already cute and happy with me flaws and all. I don’t think Tamar lightens her skin, I think she just needs to head to her local MAC/Bobbi Brown counter and get the right NC or NW shade. But she has clearly put in an application for a nose job as did Beyonce and Halle and Janet and many, many of these “perfect” women some of us try to emulate. They don’t even wake up looking like that, so why should anyone else expect to, alas they do…
December 12, 2012 12:17 pm
This is truely sad. Also, Tamar can miss with the lies. It’s plainly obvious that she has self esteem issues and have had plastic surgery and skin lightning. She spoke about the nose jobs on BFV. Stop it!!!
December 12, 2012 12:20 pm
I honestly don’t think Tamar, Nicki, and Beyonce did any skin lightening procedures. But I do believe that they def go for that look using their make up and hair. Though this is more of a temporary method, it still goes for that same look.
Its always been this way as far as lighter is better, but I still don;t get it. I basically worship dark skin, and I prefer mid tones too.
Blessings
December 12, 2012 12:23 pm
We always accuse these celebrities about going under the knife or changing their skin or their overall appearance. However have we ever wondered why they do so. I think being a celeb is extremely demanding and if your job is to be the best at what you do and constantly look appealing, the pressure to enhance your image will always increase. Eventually these celebrities have no choice but to give into the pressures of keeping up that Hollywood glam image.
For example, how often do we see Kim k without makeup?
or Nicki Minaj without a wig?
Their appearance have become so powerful it has given them a brand image, something that makes them famous and memorable. Normally when there is something unappealing about someone or something, it ruins the brand image.
Going back to the pressures of keeping the celeb glam image, it might also be pressure from the type of industry they work in or the type family a person comes from. For example if you are not accepted in a particular society people tend to change their image or personalities just to fit in and be accepted. In the case of celebrities, they have the money to construct major changes to their bodies.
(My personal view)
December 12, 2012 12:27 pm
Wow, Tamar looks like a completely different person in her current vs. younger pic.
December 12, 2012 12:31 pm
Celebrities are held to a higher benchmark than the normal layman. Stage lights, photos shoots and the ordinary day out or plane ride require a full face of make-up. I think it’s unreasonable for the ordinary person and not something we should look to mimic or strive for. Photos are retouched, make-up can give the appearance of shades lighter and the surgery is evident. I think ALL the Braxtons got their faces done with the exception of the one who never sang with the group and Moms.
December 12, 2012 12:35 pm
When you’re confident in who you are your beauty will shine through. Everybody has insecurities and until you truly accept and embrace them, no amount of makeup, diet, or surgery will help.
December 12, 2012 12:35 pm
Before I say this, let me say I don’t agree with skin lightening. A little nip and tuck is ok with me.
But…
I wonder why it’s ok for white women to tan their skin to appear darker and inject their lips…but taboo for a woman of color to lighten her skin/get a nose job? A white woman can openly wish for more “ethnic” features and nobody will bring up self hate, but if a black woman desires a slimmer nose, they’re told they need to appreciate the skin they’re in/what God gave them. I wonder why that is.
December 12, 2012 12:35 pm
what is an “upcession” Lex????
December 12, 2012 12:37 pm
Lots of blacks do suffer from vitiligo. My mom was diagnosed at 60 years old with this disorder. She went from dark skinned to a hue similiar to Michael Jacksons. So its very possible that Tamar has this disease though I doubt it. That doesnt explain the weird cheek implants either. The woman in the red bathing suit is sick and I hate to admit that I’m glad this happened to her lol. Emilys body is fat grafting extreme, I can’t with her. That girl from Europe is the biggest loser thus far, like who wants to look like that? She looks absurd.
December 12, 2012 12:39 pm
I’m satisfied with my overall appearance and the only thing I would love to do is lose about 20 pounds. I think that celebs and social media increase the desire to be flawless. As long as people are showing you every outfit they wear, every item they buy and and all of their ‘things’ there will be a desire to look better and get more. I agree that Tamar didn’t lighten her skin, but needs to go darker on the make up, look at her face vs. her neck. She definitely had a nose job and more botox than Kim Kardashian, so I hope she’s not trying to lie about that.
December 12, 2012 12:39 pm
@Kapri_H
Black women will always* undergo harsher judgement than others. ALWAYS.
December 12, 2012 12:41 pm
Emily B and Nicki both have had surgery. I think Emily keeps doing it hoping to keep Fab interested. Its not working. She needs to cut her losses. Nicki and Tamar wear the wrong concealer. There are certain segments of the show where you can see that Tamar is just lighter than her sisters, more her Father’s complexion. She doesnt look like she bleaches.
If any woman wants to enhance her beauty thru surgery etc then so be it. I think we are seeing celebs that need to look a certain way because that is their brand and that is what keeps them in endorsements.
December 12, 2012 12:41 pm
I realized more and more folks are getting plastic surgery, so much so I think its just common these days. However as someone who works with photo editing software a lot, I want to address the bleaching accusations I’ve seen thrown around constantly.
Some artists aren’t bleaching. Hear me out, most of the photos you see are the result of poor makeup and or and tons of lightening done in the software.
For example, Tamar’s makeup is often 5-7 shades lighter than her actual skintone. That is the problem. I mean, in that picture it is obviously the wrong shade and it isn’t blended into her jawline either. Nicki is wearing a ton of concealer as well, plus that the flash is ridiculous lol. Judging by how much darker her skin is on her forehead, yeah, not bleaching.
It’s beyond sad how common place it is to lighten skin in photo editing software. It usually starts with the usual: to hide the wrinkles and little imperfections in addition to the blurring, air brushing and adjusting of body parts. I’ve seen people do it without even thinking about it, because its so easy. If you’re proficient in photoshop you know what I mean.
Granted, the folks I’ve seen who’ve bleached their skin, the result looks very obvious. It doesn’t look natural at all.
December 12, 2012 12:46 pm
Dead @Lex
@Jeda, you better search for old photos of Nicki hanging in the streets of QU back in the day, Take a look at beYAWNce when she first walked into the industry…and Tamar, it’s just obvious and foolish of her to deny what she has done to herself.
I believe it to be okay to get a nip tuck here and there and to make something a little smaller or bigger…but Nicki, Kim K. and Tamar are just the poster children of what self hatred looks like…oh did I mention Ms Lil Kim?! who stated in a 1998 article with Vibe that she hated herself so much that she dreamed to be white…truly sad…
December 12, 2012 12:54 pm
Beyonce has never bleached her skin. Y’all are delusional as hell. Yes she has had a nose job but skin bleaching? no. I don’t think Tamar or Nicki has either. It’s just bad makeup sometimes.
I wouldn’t go that far. There are few things I would like to change one day. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with enhancing your looks when it’s done right. Kelly Rowland is a great example. Most people don’t even know she’s had a boob or nose job.
December 12, 2012 1:01 pm
I don’t believe Bey has bleached, she’s a light skinned woman and in winter has the potential to be even lighter. She tans, but skin bleaching would be more obvious and unattractive…
December 12, 2012 1:04 pm
I lost 90 pounds thats it im done
December 12, 2012 1:05 pm
Some celebs use skin lightening/bleaching techniques because they have uneven skintone (dark spots, age spots etc) and the end result is that they end up getting lighter compared, which may not be there intention. And then there are others who bleach to obtain lighter skin ie Lil’ Kim.
I think a few get a bad rap because the lightening in their pics tend to be due to LIGHTING for that shoot. I take personal pics and sometimes my shades are different based on the lighting used.
I also think we forget that we change shades at different times of the season. I’ve never thought that Beyonce bleached her skin so that she can be lighter, the girl was never dark to begin with.
Surgery…hey to each it’s own. I think it’s sad when we have to manipulate african features (ie nose). And the butt injections, implants, and so forth are out of control.
December 12, 2012 1:08 pm
But do you blame a lot of these people, the world is full of catty synical people who are ready to rip you apart. I think that was the downfall of people like Tameka…
I don’t envy them.
December 12, 2012 1:14 pm
Ya damned if you do and damned if you don’t… I recently had my teeth fixed and I’ll do it again in a heart beat. But some over do it. And I think the ones who look weird and ugly,are weird and ugly on the inside…
December 12, 2012 1:18 pm
The Braxton that didn’t sing with the group is gorgeous. I personally think she is the prettiest sister. She is the spitting image of her mom. I say let’s see more of her. Tamar looks like a completely different person than her picture at age 19.
December 12, 2012 1:19 pm
@Bella you say never as if you spend your days waking up and going to bed with Beyonce. Shutup you delusional stan. So obsessed.
Does it matter what these celebs do when fans put things like this above them because they have money and fame? Fans act as if celebs don’t suffer from media scrutiny, insecurity and the pressure to look damn near perfect.
@Kapri_H that’s apples and oranges comparing a black woman lightening her skin or narrowing of her nose to a white woman tanning. When have white women ever been attacked for being too white? Nose and lips too thin? Even when they’re tanning they aren’t trying to be black but simply add a bit of color to their paleness so stop. Seems like you’re looking for a reason to justify your inner wish to be a white girl.
December 12, 2012 1:34 pm
Tamar clearly had some work on her nose.
And she’s kinda pale without her makeup. You could see that when she went to see her dermatologist on one of those T&V episodes. She often wears the wrong shade of foundation. Unfortunate but does not equal bleaching. lol
December 12, 2012 1:36 pm
Wow @Problem?
Why are you so hateful? You are taking an interesting discussion and poisoning it. You can state your opinions without being rude and taking personal jabs at someone. I just hope the ladies you have slammed don’t bother responding to your negativity so the debate can continue.
That is all for my attempt at moderating.
December 12, 2012 1:37 pm
Tamar – chile please. Nose job, cheek implants and no telling whatever else she has had done. Also, only if Vitiligo = hydroquinone will I agree with Vince. It’s not secret a lot of these famous women whose “beauty” folk gush over (i.e., Halle, Beyonce, Alicia, Kim, etc.) have had work done. At a min, everyone on that list has had their nose altered. Let’s not talk about the lipo and butt injections for a few as well. I’m sorry, but I just cannot consider someone beautiful knowing they’ve had body / face altering cosmetic surgery. It’s sad our little girls look up to this nowadays. As for Emily B…no comment.
Cliche – well written article. I actually scrolled back up to the top as I thought this was written by Claire. Finger snaps!
December 12, 2012 1:37 pm
Can we stop comparing black women for bleaching to white women tanning. STOP! White women don’t get criticized for being white or needing to appeal to a black audience. I don’t believe their culture has waged a war within their own community of pale vs. tan as we’ve done with light vs. dark. Call a spade a spade. Our own community has horrible self esteem and self love. I still have people in my family that will make a comment like ‘don’t marry him, he will give you some black babies. It’s disgusting.
December 12, 2012 1:52 pm
@destination you can shutup too! What’s hateful about someone speaking for a celebrity as if they are one of the pores on their face and me calling them out on it?
There was nothing hateful about what I said. What you mad? And they can respond just like your silly emotional self did. Truth hurts.
December 12, 2012 1:58 pm
to each his own, that’s all im gonna say. I believe that getting plastic surgery to enhance your own personal image is equivalent to going to the gym, just more expensive.
December 12, 2012 2:01 pm
I started skin bleaching 5 years ago due to extreme hyperpigmentation.
I have tinea versicolor. I started skin bleaching and using aha lotions to even it out and now I can not stop. It does get addicting. Then you start focusing on other areas.
Black knees
Black knuckles
Black ankles
I got teased ALOT when I as younger for having those things. By males. Alot of black women suffer from this. I fixed it all, too. Now my skin is flawless very lighter. I have become addicted. And men treat me differently now that I am lighter. It sucks that it took light skin to get different treatment, but that’s the reality of our society.
Skin bleaching is getting more popular. There are popular forums like skincaretalk and blackbleachingbabes blog I just came across. I bleach to cure a skin issue but too many people these days do it to gain acceptance. It’s scary.
December 12, 2012 2:21 pm
Is there a vitiligo race to sign up for? Like Run For the Cure because this is apparently rampant now and I’m ready to help :sideeye:
But, let’s say for the sake of discussion, that skin lightening was a side effect of “evening out skin tone.” It’s time to look to the pharmaceutical industry to create products conducive to darker skin tones.
Oh wait, we’ve yet to barely get that done in the mainstream cosmetics industry. I’ll keep waiting…
December 12, 2012 2:21 pm
@Jhess
Totally agree. Unless unrealistic, you can obtain the body you are searching for in the gym, especially if you are speaking of glutes. Use the same technique used by body building – heavy weights, shorter and slow (holding) reps, short rest period.
December 12, 2012 2:22 pm
E, thanks for sharing your story. Even if I don’t agree with it, it’s really interesting to here someone be honest about it.
December 12, 2012 2:23 pm
@Natasha
That’s the problem, because of our pigment, we are at risk for patches and skin lightening. The say the same ‘caution’ is given for skin peels as well.
December 12, 2012 2:32 pm
Skin bleaching is not only a problem with the black community, but in the Asian (east and south) as well. Mainly because lighter is more accepted and the chances that you will marry at a higher status is better. I have a number of south asian friends and each of them as a personal story of mistreatment due to a dark pigment. A coworker sister (in India) has had men tell her parents is that the only way they will marry her is if they offer more money….her value is just not high due to her darker skin.
December 12, 2012 2:32 pm
…sorry for the grammer errors, multi-tasking :s
December 12, 2012 2:41 pm
Wow E!! I appreciate your honesty. I myself wanted to try bleaching cream to get rid of the acene scars on my face, but I haven’t in fear I might become addicted.
December 12, 2012 2:42 pm
On a lighter note Tamar looks like Lil Kim’s twin
December 12, 2012 3:33 pm
Colorism is a fantastic book that deals with the issue of the preference for lighter skin within the African American community.
December 12, 2012 3:42 pm
@Destination Everywhere O_o
December 12, 2012 3:47 pm
@ SAW ‘on a lighter note’ – hahaha, i see what you did there haha
I have nightmares about this – waking up to find that somebody has performed cosmetic surgery on me, particularly bigger boobs or ANYTHING on my face. If i’ve done one thing right when it comes to my appearance it’s to accept the beauty of being one in a million – there is only one, and will only ever EVER be one of each one of us, with the features and characteristics I have, I would hate to lose that to try looking like what i’m NOT
December 12, 2012 3:50 pm
This is so sad. Esp. the light skin/ dark skin issue among blacks
December 12, 2012 3:53 pm
Honestly I think the problem is that people focus too much on “commercial beauty” that we are missing the beauty of being unique. These days everybody wants to look and dress like so and so thay we are slowly becoming clones of each other. Everybody wants to blend in while few stand out and to me that is true beauty. Personally I like character and “flaws” not commercial and photoshopped. I am all for feeling,looking and being your best you so I am not anti plastic surgery/cosmetic procedures but in moderation and nothing to extreme. And Tamar look way more beautiful and unique before than she does now. But as a rule I don’t believe celebrities when it cimes to image because nearly all of them had a nip/tuck or some in house procedure so don’t believe the hype plastic surgery/recovery time has come a LONG way.
December 12, 2012 3:53 pm
& this is why I love this site….always hit topics that people sweep under the rug..but light skinned,big butt, long hair, expensive designer clothing/shoes, all the materialisticc things etc… shouldn’t make or break you.but it is very sad what “beauty” is now & days …& the extreme measures we go through to achieve that “look”; I do believe in plastic surgery IF needed other than we’re meant to look the way we look naturally…all shape sizes faces is beautfiul :)
December 12, 2012 4:02 pm
To Problem and the other poster that said white women don’t get any flack for looking “too white.” That’s not true at all. Many fair skinned women feel pressure to tan.
December 12, 2012 4:03 pm
Oh and I forgot to add that a lot of people are beautiful walking around the streets everyday but most don’t tap into their full potential. Because if a lot of people TRULY take care of themselves and their health they would be knockouts. You would truly be surprised how some people would look without carrying around extra weight, being proactive with their skin/hair, dressing better, etc. We become such a quick fix society that people have become so lazy with their basic body upkeep. So of course many would be easily swayed and “ooh and aww” at the smoke and mirrors of Hollywood and commercial beauty.
December 12, 2012 4:03 pm
Aww man this is sad, I wear weave and make-up and I feel like I alter my natural beauty a bit too much. Some of these women have overstep their boundaries and completely ruined their appearance. I have an eye for beauty and I understand that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, what I see as gorgeous, another sees as peculiar, so who is setting these standards for universal beauty? In actuality no one! We all have our own definition as to what beauty should be, we may be swayed by society a bit, but we still have our own individual taste. I wanted a nose job at some point because all the stars were doing it until I realized deep down I really like my nose. We shouldn’t alter ourselves so we can be accepted, we should do it so we can be enhanced, and some of these are by far not enhancements, just a loud cry for attention and acceptance.
December 12, 2012 4:43 pm
@Binks so true. The media is pushing this bullshit standard of beauty to make black women believe that the only way they are truly desirable is to have long weave, big ol’ butt and narrow nose with sky high desginer heels, dress and bag. Its just another way for us as black women to not have a connection with our roots. We’re told and shown that the European standard of beauty is what we need to achieve while women of European desent strive to attain our beauty. Kim K is hailed for her curvy body, Angelina Jolie is stunnig with her full lips. Everyone else knows we’re gorgeous except for us. I’m beginning to think these celebs (not just of color) have had work done bc somewhere along the line someone has told them they’re not beautiful. Its sick what they’re doing to women. “So black women don’t want to strive to be stick thin? We’ll turn them all into Sarah Barton. Bigger butts!” Just another form of feet binding.
Whoooooo Great post Claire!
December 12, 2012 4:57 pm
I guess when you reach a certain level of fame, the pressure is on. But that’s when you have to decide if you want to lose your self respect for money and fame. Some of the lesser famous, yet more talented artist probably never make it big because they chose not to give into the bs. i also think we have to start at home. I don’t see myself lightening my skin or having plastic surgery not because I don’t look at magazines, but because my self worth and how I’m viewed in God’s eyes has been drilled into my head since i can remember. I would feel guilty to alter the beautiful work He created that is me.
December 12, 2012 5:13 pm
I went as far as getting my breasts augmented in 2008. I didn’t go crazy huge, just filled out what I had to make them more perky. My doctor did a good job and basically gave me what I asked for. But in the end, I was never really happy with them. I’ve decided to have the implants removed this coming Spring. I can’t wait to be AU NATURELLE” again.
December 12, 2012 5:35 pm
I’m a beauty junkie. I’ll try every product under the sun, but going under the knife is where I draw the line. I don’t trust plastic surgeons when it comes to altering ethnic faces. Plus I’d hate to look like anything other than my parents.
December 12, 2012 5:35 pm
Kapri_H
We live in a society that says white skin and European features are better and more desirable. For God’s sake the white woman is held up as the poster girl for female attractiveness. So I guess for some people of colour the closer they approximate the look of white women the more attractive and desirable they and society think they are. White women do not hate being white or think that they are not attractive because they are white. However, many women of colour do not like their brown skin and wish to be lighter. I remember when I was at school sunbathing with a group of white friends. I jokingly said to one of the girls it’s going to take some time till you turn brown like me and she looked at me and said: ” Ew I don’t want to be that brown”. I will never forget that. So yeah white girls wanting to get a tan is not the same as brown girls wanting to be lighter.
December 12, 2012 5:46 pm
I think a lot of women (not just celebs) are turning to these extreme measures due to pressure from society in generally but esp men. I’ve stopped watching certain videos for this reason but I gurantee if you turn on certain artists videos you will see long hair, giant breasts and even bigger butts with no fat anywhere else. Hell, look at how many social media profiles in which these females place their behind or chest as their main pic. Then look at how many followers and “likes” they have. Its really sad and we have to do better, esp when I think of my daughter growing up and potentially feeling “less than” because of what society says and what most males covet. I’ll teach her the value of inner beauty and def brains but all this makes me wonder where this world will be looking like in abt 10 yrs.
December 12, 2012 5:55 pm
White women never want to look like black women. Don’t believe that sh*it. They don’t want ‘african’ lips, they want bigger lips, they don’t want to be black, they just want to look like a healthy, fake Pamela Anderson. They may want some features but never want to look black, because then you must accept all the discrimination and racism you people suffer of. You have beauty all over the world and real beauty is on the inside, but black women, or women of color, are amongst the most beautiful. (I’m not egotripping, I’m white :) ) It is so sad that black women think they have to lower theirselves to ‘white standards’ because of society-pressure. I wish girls all over the world could be more secure and beauty in all forms would be accepted.
December 12, 2012 6:01 pm
Tamar has admitted to having a nose job just like Toni and I think their dad b/c they all have breathing issues. she just wears too much/the wrong color makeup
December 12, 2012 6:05 pm
this is a great post! thanks for bringing light to celebs going too far with “enhancing their beauty”.
December 12, 2012 6:57 pm
This is sad, and at the same time these are the women that some of our sisters are idolizing. We need to learn to love and accept our flaws.
December 12, 2012 8:03 pm
Oooooh child, let me settle in this post
*chews popcorn*
December 12, 2012 8:19 pm
Great article Cliche. There is way too much pressure in society today. As the years pass, it gets worse and worse, I’m so afraid for our kids and the obstacles they will face. Too much focus on what a woman looks like than what a woman has to say or feel.
December 12, 2012 8:36 pm
This is a great post/article, and I’m glad that there is a place where we can talk about subjects like these. While I don’t like the thought/practice of skin bleaching, I really don’t have a problem with plastic surgery, if it’s done tastefully.
Ever since I was young, I have hated my nose. I’ve always felt like it was too big for my face. And I used to feel guilty about wanting to changing it, because people would think that I hated being black. But after doing research, and really sitting down and thinking about it, I realized that I just want a more feminine nose (I have my fathers’ nose). And plus, not all black women have big or wide noses. So with that said, if a person want features that are more harmonious with other features or their bodies, I say go for it. Just as long as it fits, and you’re not trying to totally change who you are. White women (and other races) get their noses done all the time, whether to remove humps, or whatever.
December 12, 2012 8:42 pm
This is a great post/article, and I’m glad that there is a place where we can talk about subjects like these. While I don’t like the thought/practice of skin bleaching, I really don’t have a problem with plastic surgery, if it’s done tastefully.
Ever since I was young, I have hated my nose. I’ve always felt like it was too big for my face. And I used to feel guilty about wanting to changing it, because people would think that I hated being black. But after doing research, and really sitting down and thinking about it, I realized that I just want a more feminine nose (I have my fathers’ nose). And plus, not all black women have big or wide noses. So with that said, if a person want features that are more harmonious with other features or their bodies, I say go for it. Just as long as it fits, and you’re not trying to totally change who you are. White women (and other races) get their noses done all the time, whether to remove humps, make smaller, or whatever (they get big noses/noses like their father too).
Pattie Labelle and Nene are pretty good examples. They still maintained their ethnic features, but have noses that are more feminine, and fit their face.
December 12, 2012 9:58 pm
Good post Cliche!
December 12, 2012 10:29 pm
Jennifer hudson need to tend to them ( ) around that mouf of hers but neway
December 12, 2012 11:15 pm
IDK about the other ladies, but did anyone else see the last episode of Tamar and Vince when she had NO makeup on and went to go see the dermatologist? she looked FINE like she doesnt look like she did anything to her face when she doesnt have all the makeup caked on…i kno she got her nose done bcuz she said it had to do something with her breathing…BUT i think Tamars problem is how her makeup is done up
December 12, 2012 11:40 pm
No one has answered why it is okay for white women to go to taming salons and change the way there sin looks but is is not okay for a black women to bleach there skin
December 12, 2012 11:56 pm
@change92 everyone wants what they don’t have. Curly hair? Flatiron. Straight hair? Rollers.
December 13, 2012 2:27 am
this is scary…enhancing your appearance with hair and makeup is one thing, but completely altering your facial features and physique is self hatred. the sad thing is that the people who do this look perfectly fine before surgery. smh.
December 13, 2012 2:44 am
them skin are bleached lmao :)
December 13, 2012 8:27 am
The lying about changes to one’s appearance is what slays me about celebrities. Yes, getting work done is a private matter, but with so many women actually DYING to achieve a look that some presume to be real is just sad and disheartening. If they were just a bit more open about why they feel inclined to succumb to society’s ideal for beauty and why they felt the need to have surgery/bleach/where wigs/etc., then maybe that discussion can be had and there wouldn’t be such a need to have it done in the first place. By making these enhancements seem so taboo, just adds to the fuel and desire for many to have it done and at the the risk of one’s health.
December 13, 2012 9:55 am
Looking at Tamar’s old pic, I wonder why she would ever want to mess with that beautiful face.
As far as the “skin bleaching” goes: it is really sad when it goes too far. I understand wanting to even out hyperpigmentation. I can even understand a little nip and tuck. But, it seems to be a slippery slope. Right now I still think that imperfect is the true perfect. But, if I was in the industry, it might be a different story.
December 13, 2012 10:02 am
@Change92, it’s ‘ok’ at both ends of the spectrum. A little sunkiss and a little hydroquinone(sp?) to even out your complexion won’t hurt. But, going too far is not okay.
December 13, 2012 12:59 pm
i appreciate your honesty E. skin bleaching IS epidemic in many communities; not just the african american community. where i live many of the jamaicans & especially the african women bleach & you can really tell because their appearance is this sickly color of gray. their skin tones do not look creamy or even…just grayish. i don’t think bey bleaches because she’s already light, but the jury’s still out on nick. tamar has had work done. she openly discussed her nose job on bfv & she said that some of her sisters have had nose jobs as well. i do believe lighting, bad make up, photoshopping, etc. have a hand in the lightening of these celebrities. look at kim fields. as tootie she was a darker brown child, but as an adult she & her mother are several shades lighter & i remember when a caller called into bet’s teen summit (back in the day) & asked kim why she was so much lighter now than when she was a child. lil’ kim is just a sad soul. she was always referring to herself as a white woman trapped in a black woman’s body. she also said in a magazine article in essence or ebony discussing light/dark skinned celebs that she had a complex about lighter skin because every man she loved left her for a light skinned woman. grown folks are going to do what they want to do so…
December 13, 2012 2:02 pm
Cliche, what a wonderful, and thought provoking post.
December 13, 2012 2:56 pm
Wow… I just used my whole lunch hour reading these comments and goggle AHA creams and skin diseases. Thanks Cliche lol… (on serious note great post, I learned alot today).
December 13, 2012 2:58 pm
*
Goggling
December 13, 2012 3:33 pm
Thanks for the update, is there any way I can receive an email sent to me when you write a fresh article?
December 14, 2012 1:26 am
I think this is a great post, and agree, except I think in the two pictures of Tamar & Niki, you can tell they have on a lighter foundation/full face of makeup. You can see by the reflection of the camera flash, the titanium dioxide reflects light (under Nikki’s eyes, and check out Tamar’s jaw line) So I don’t think these two pictures are the best example, and I’m not too familiar with Tamar to judge otherwise. However, I do agree with the positive statements made here, and think natural is beautiful.
December 14, 2012 12:17 pm
I do not believe either of these females that were mention has ever got their skin lightned! i believe its just the foundation. because ..
1) its only their face that is light than the rest of their bodies &
2) I’m light skin and like any other female of male, when its summer time.. what do we all do ?? Get Darker/ Tanned… when its Winter, what happens?? we are lighter than what we were when the sun was cooking us as a meals!
So no i do not believe either of them have lightened their skin, because if they have.. it wouldnt have been just their faces that were pale, it would of been their whole bodies!!
Now As For That Damn Lil Kim, There Is No DOUBT That She Bleached/Lightened Her Skin!!
December 14, 2012 12:31 pm
Nicki Minaj’s fake bottom is just rediculous and unaesthetic, I hate it.
Tamar definitely had surgery. It looks like she had her nose done. I’m not sure about the skin bleaching thing but I will say that you can’t look at one picture from her youth and decide.
PS I lover Tamar, when’s the album coming out?
December 14, 2012 1:47 pm
The lengths ppl go through in the name of vanity is pathetic. A little nip here and tuck there is okay, but dont go overboard
December 15, 2012 9:17 am
Awesome post. I think this would be less of an issue if more celebs were upfront about the plastic surgery they have. Example, Kelly Rowland famously admitted to having plastic surgery and—no one ever talks about it because it’s not a secret. I’m all for people improving themselves how they see fight, but in the words of Ice Cube: You aint gotta lie to kick it.
December 30, 2012 7:01 pm
I’ve been seeing recent pics of Emily Bustamante in the media and thinking “Lord, what has this woman done to herself???”…she was just fine the way she was before.
Tamar doesn’t appear to be bleaching at all to me, but the shades of foundation she’s using in conjunction with all the heavy contouring…goodness gracious it’s so over the top as much as I like her I think it makes her look a bit like a Muppet; everything washed out with exaggerated eyes and lips. She’s an attractive young lady, though and doesn’t need all of that… you can see on her show when she has down time (vacations/rehearsals) she’s wearing little to no make-up and looks normal and cute– and not bleached out- although she’s clearly had her nose tweaked a little bit. However, it doesn’t look bad at all on her. I think small cosmetic tweaks aren’t out of the ordinary for the modern woman, although I would never do it myself.
I do also recall during the first season of BFV, Tamar was going through a hardcore “bronzing”/spray tan phase wile in Los Angeles: I guess she’s on the opposite end of the spectrum now with her make-up artists blowing her out as they do?
That being said, I am at least happy that she hasn’t begun altering her body with implants. In my day being curvy meant you had a figure like Lola Falana, Pam Grier, or Bernadette Stannis from Good Times, and NATURALLY so. Whatever happened to the days of The Commodores’ iconic “Brickhouse”, the woman who measured 36-24-36?
I think what young women are doing to themselves today to achieve the current (and non-realistic) visions of physical perfection via these implantations is nothing short of madness. I often wonder if (God forbid) these women end up with many health complications as a result of butchering their bodies like this? At the very least, I imagine there will be some, who, at a later point in life, will regret what they’ve done to themselves even if it’s just a matter of aesthetics. Imagine being 70 year old trying to maintain such an exaggerated figure? These surgery trends we’re witnessing are overkill, and I’ll be glad when we see the end of it all. This craziness is doing nothing but pushing young women further and further towards body dysmorphic disorder before our very eyes.