The discrimination over the color of a complexion is a major hurdle in the way of people who possess dark complexion. Unfortunately for the girl, it is considered a curse here. Even the advertisement for the bride highlights the term “Fair Complexion” in our country. Here is the story of Tanya Nambiar, who tells us the same thing wrapped up in her own experience.
In the prevailing mentality of our society, Tanya Nambiar managed to cope up with the situation and came out as a winner at the end. “I was always told that fair is beautiful, was constantly bullied and called Kaali Kalooti due to which I had developed low self-esteem,” says Tanya.
As a child, My maternal grandmother used to ask me not to drink tea because it would make me “darker.” Everywhere I turned, people seemed to have advice on how I should treat my skin to look “prettier.” In school plays, I was never given the leading role because who wanted a dark protagonist?
I was constantly cast to play Krishna, not Radha, because “tum kaali ho.”( you are dark) Kids say the meanest things and through school, I was bullied into believing I was ugly. My cousins were obsessed with fairness, used talcum powder in abundance and ended looking like ghosts.
Delhi is home for over 3 decades. Many ask ‘are you madrasi?” Delhi’s favorite term for any south Indian. Even today, beauticians ask if I want the “fairness facial” and in the run up to my wedding last year, everyone had an opinion on how to get me the fair, bridal glow.
During trials, Make-up artists made me three shades lighter, Designers suggested colors that would make look fair and pretty. The obsession with fairness still continues and it’s 2017. Matrimonial advertisements still give importance to ‘fair and beautiful’ and not education, young girls get wrongly influenced by the fairness product and this is India in 2017!
Thankfully, my mother always taught me to be proud of who I am and I am glad, I never fell prey to the fairness cream. Today I am comfortable in my own skin (pun entirely intended) and just focus on doing what I love.
Today I am a musician, anchor, and voice over artist. Everyone told me not to quit my cushy corporate job for a career as an independent musician. In this industry, though, no one has ever commented on my complexion, at least not to my face. But sometimes I model, and that is a whole different story. There, my color plays an “important role.” Sometimes I get a project thanks to it, and other times I don’t because of it. Firstly, I am not your typical skinny model and then I’m a dusky. I am pretty sure my pictures are airbrushed but there is little I can do about it. The modeling industry can be cruel.
Tanya Nambiar
SOURCE: BEING YOU
IMAGE SOURCE: SOCIAL MEDIA
