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.
