6 Celebrities Who Have Been Associated With Skin Bleaching

While one may achieve bizarre standards of beauty while lightening skin, what are the health detriments?

Although the harmful effects of skin-bleaching have been long written about, the trend has persisted. Some blame colonization as a reason to desire light skin because those with light skin were more powerful.

The topic of skin bleaching has been brought into the spotlight most recently by the Unfair and Lovely movement, their photos, Instagram, and Twitter has caught the attention of the world, even the ever popular George Takei. A lot of the photos you will see reference a cream called Fair and Lovely…so what do they mean when they’re talking about Fair Lovely?

Fair and Lovely is a skin bleaching cream, although it is advertised as skin-lightening and you can find it in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and even in the US. It is one of the most popular of Unilever’s products and many say it is because of the concept that the lighter you are in Asian countries, the more attractive you are. The Unfair and Lovely movement embraces one’s skin color, no matter the shade.

But skin bleaching isn’t a problem solely belongs to Asia—in fact, it is a growing problem in Jamaica and Ghana as well as Japan and Korea.

So, while one may achieve bizarre standards of beauty while lightening skin, what are the health detriments? You have skin discoloration, skin cancer, acne, white spots, bruising easily, and more side effects.

Here are some of the most popular people associated with skin bleaching. They are very famous and fans tend to take them seriously, especially with all the products they endorse. Does them promoting the use of fairness creams and skin bleaching have a negative impact on their audiences? Yes, it almost always will.

1. Shah Rukh Khan

Khan has long been associated with Fair and Handsome, which is a skin bleaching product for males. This association has led to petitions to remove the advertisements.

2. Sammy Sosa

Sosa, a famous Chicago Cubs baseball player, has been quoted saying he used a bleaching cream—and if you see the picture, it’s shocking how much lighter Sosa has become. Ultimately, everyone is entitled to look and feel they way they would like, but when health risks are involved and when the person has considerable influence on the masses, it is hard to watch.

3. Hrithik Roshan

Eight years after Khan became the face for Fair and Handsome, Hrithik Roshan is set to become the second major celebrity brand ambassador of this product.

4. Yami Gautam

Gautam is a Bollywood actress who is the celebrity face for Fair and Lovely. She has done ads for various Fair and Lovely products, such as the lightening cream and BB cream. She is currently shooting a movie with Roshan, and with both being brand ambassadors for the cream, one has to wonder—how many people will start using the product?

5. Vybz Kartel

Kartel is a Jamaican reggae artist who bleached his skin simply for the shock value. He argues that it is his body and he will do whatever he wants as an entertainer.

6. Lil Kim

American rapper Lil’ Kim has also recently hit the spotlight with her new selfies—and a new skin tone.

Miami Heat!!!

A photo posted by Lil’ Kim (@lilkimthequeenbee) on Apr 24, 2016 at 3:11pm PDT

The artist has faced a lot of negativity for her recent Instagram posts with her ultra blonde hair and much lighter skin. Fans are unhappy with this new look and feel that Lil’ Kim is rejecting her black identity and feeding the negative stereotype that lighter hair, skin and eye color are the only things to be considered beautiful.

Share your thoughts with us. Do you know someone who bleaches their skin? Do you? Send us your story and why you do it or why it’s something you think people should do or not.