In other news, Beverly Naya has been fighting this battle for years. And she is not backing down.
The actress sat down for an interview and dropped a statistic that should make everyone uncomfortable. According to the World Health Organisation, 77% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, the highest rate in Africa. Togo follows at 59%, South Africa at 35%, and Senegal at 27%. Nigeria is not just leading; we are running away with the trophy.
(sucks teeth like Victor Osimhen, hearing that Nigeria is number one at something and it is not football)
Naya said her documentary, ‘’Skin’’, was created to challenge the beauty standards that keep pushing women toward bleaching. She described colorism as another form of bullying, one that existed long before people knew what to call it.
"People knew that you could literally look at a dark-skinned person, and you would say, 'Oh, Blackie,' and it was derogatory, it was offensive, but there was nothing to define what that act was," she explained. "But then it was colorism, and they didn't know what it was".
( lost in deep thoughts like DJ Chicken)
Naya said the documentary was released on Netflix just weeks after George Floyd's death, a timing that helped it reach a global audience. "Naturally, it blew up. So many people watched it, and the impact was insane," she said. The overwhelming reception inspired her to keep the movement going, taking the conversation beyond Nigeria to a worldwide stage.
The actress pointed to a cultural hierarchy in Nigeria where lighter skin is often associated with beauty and success. "There's this hierarchy of beauty according to complexion, where it's like the lighter you are, the better," she said.
But here is what the blogs did not tell you.
Naya's fight against colorism is deeply personal. She revealed that she was bullied as a teenager in London for her skin colour and once believed she was "ugly" because of the teasing she endured. "I had crooked teeth and I had really bad eczema. And even though I fixed my teeth and my skin cleared over time, the damage had already been done to my mental state and how I saw myself," she admitted.
Her early 20s were spent unlearning all of that. She launched an anti-bullying campaign, learned to love herself, and eventually turned her pain into a documentary that has now reached millions. The woman literally turned her trauma into a global movement.
Meanwhile, dermatologists in Nigeria are raising alarms about the health risks. Skin bleaching has been linked to cancers, organ damage, and treatment-resistant infections. The Nigerian Association of Dermatologists has warned that the prevalence could be as high as 84% , calling it a public health crisis . But people are still bleaching because society keeps telling them that lighter is better.
The real tea is not about the statistic or the health risks. It is that Beverly Naya took something that hurt her, bullying, insecurity, and societal pressure, and turned it into a tool to heal others. She said the whole idea was just to inspire people to love the complexion they are in and appreciate themselves for who they are. And honestly? That is the kind of energy we actually need. Because if 77% of Nigerian women are bleaching, clearly, the message is not getting through.
Edgar doesn't lie.
Source: Beverly Naya's assistant, Nonye Chima.
Nkechi Blessing said flowers would let her know she has found "the one." Read here: Nkechi Blessing Said "Give Me Flowers," and the Bar Is Now in Hell. At least her standard is cheap. This one is about changing an entire mindset. Listen to my podcast. Why Am I Still Single? Available right here on checkedgar.com.
