Pearl Thusi may be one of the most beautiful celebrities Mzansi can offer, she may also be the face of a brand that promotes African Afro products, yes now we all love her, but did you know that there was a time when she couldn’t be ‘’black enough’’ for some people, no matter how hard she tried?
The media personality has opened up about how much of a negative impact the colour of her skin has had in the way people perceived her, reflecting on what it was like for her growing up with her light skin complexion.
“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.”
Wow, one has to admit that Pearl Thusi is indeed a walking book that most of our African sisters can learn a lot from, maybe South Africa should even elect her as the next president, just kidding!
Picture credit: OkMzansi
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T.Nkabinde
