Model laments after being rejected on set for not being light-skinned

A young model identified as Ewa has taken to her page online to lament after she was rejected at a movie set for not being light-skinned.

According to the model, the artist selected her for the shoot. However, upon getting to set for the shooting, the artist changed his mind saying she can not shoot because he wanted a light-skinned model.

The model wrote…

“8 am on Sunday, I left my house in Ikeja to the set of my at Lekki. Some minutes after noon, the artiste arrived on set and said he changed his mind. He wants a light-skinned model because my skin tone ‘doesn’t fit the aesthetic’

At this time, I was done with makeup and halfway through my hair, so l was thinking it must probably be a joke. Am I supposed to whip out bleaching cream and turn myself into the skin tone that fits the aesthetic?

The members of the crew tell me that it’s the artiste’s video and there’s nothing they can do about it. This is very funny to me because the artist himself cast me for the role a week ago. And it wasn’t until an hour into filming that he decided he wanted a light-skinned girl.

They said I will be given a compensation fee which isn’t even half the pay for the job but I should be grateful because they could have just told me bye-bye.

Throughout everything, the director and the artist refused to address me personally and instead resorted to sending members of the crew to me. They told me to go home, it happens all the time, and light-skinned women are preferable for mvs.

They kept telling me how the situation could have been much worse. ‘What if I had started filming before the artiste changed his mind?’ I should be grateful they decided to give me some money because they originally just wanted to pay for my transport alone.

I can’t begin to describe how insulted I felt. The fact that this didn’t happen in Europe or Asia makes it all the more hurtful. It’s always baffling to see how outrageously colorist our society and the industry is.

I’m a dark-skinned woman and if I don’t fit the aesthetic or meet up to your beauty standards, don’t book me. It’s that simple. There are thousands of light-skinned women to choose from.

Models are not accessories. We are not shoes or bags that you can change and replace as you see fit. We are people and we deserve to be treated as such.

8am on Sunday, I left my house in Ikeja to the set of a mv at Lekki. Some minutes after noon, the artiste arrived on set and said he changed his mind. He wants a light skinned model because my skin tone 'doesn't fit the aesthetic’ 🧵 https://t.co/3xlFhccg0S pic.twitter.com/8g1vam9RI9

— Yoruba Barbie 王美 (@ewameansbeauty_) May 30, 2023