Kenya’s Kim Kardashian, known for her voluptuous curves, has ignited a cultural firestorm for her skin bleaching habits.
Vera Sidika, 24, often flaunts her big rear view and expensive designer outfits to her 28,000 Instagram followers, with “the baddest video vixen” and “my body, my bizniz” in the bio. On a recent televised interview on Kenya’s “#TheTrend”, Sidika bragged about her quest for beauty with her skin lightening routine. She admits to spending over $170,000 in skin bleaching procedures. The aspiring singer names rap superstar Nicki Minaj and Rihanna as her inspiration to lighten her skin.
After the story made the rounds, the hashtag #BleachedBeauty slammed the Mombas native for having low self-esteem. Others questioned her skin bleaching habit because the cremes are not tested or regulated.
Despite the controversy behind skin bleaching trend in Africa (and beyond), it’s gaining popularity.
Sidika, in the interview, says she’s one of the only women who’s willing to admit to skin lightening. According to the BBC, Kenyan men prefer their women lighter as opposed to darker or “tinted” women.
Despite the praises of the Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o mocha complexion, others aren’t as satisfied with their darker skin tone. They still strive for European beauty standards, including hair extensions and bleaching cremes.
“Looking good is my business,” said Sidika openly about her choice to lighten her skin. “My body is my business, nobody else but mine.”
Below, a photo of Sidika from October, 2013.
Photo credits: The Trend; Instagram/vee_beiby; Twitter/vee_beiby