Friday, October 30, 2026 - Veteran Yoruba Nollywood actress Habibat Jinadu has revealed how discrimination over her dark complexion in the movie industry influenced her decision to bleach her skin.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Yoruba, the actress
recalled how fair-skinned actors were often preferred for movie roles, making
it difficult for darker-skinned performers to secure opportunities.
According to Jinadu, directors frequently complained about
her complexion whenever she appeared under the lights on movie sets.
“Back then, if you were not fair, nobody would call you for
jobs. Whenever they turned the light on us on a movie set, the director would
say I was too dark,” she recalled.
The actress explained that she initially overlooked the
comments until someone made a particularly hurtful remark comparing her
appearance to that of a monkey.
“I didn't pay much attention to it until someone said I
looked like a monkey,” she said.
Jinadu explained that the repeated criticism of her natural
complexion eventually influenced her decision to lighten her skin.
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