2 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:36 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:48 UTC
Nollywood actress Habibat Jinadu has revealed that she bleached her skin to secure acting roles, citing discrimination against dark-skinned and slim actresses in the film industry. In an interview with BBC Yoruba, Jinadu said directors often rejected darker-skinned performers, with one comment comparing her appearance to a monkey. She stated that she began bleaching her skin to gain roles and eventually started receiving offers, but the change made it difficult for people to recognize her in public.
Jinadu disclosed that she was unhappy with the experience but continued the practice to establish her career. She began suffering skin injuries from minor bruises on movie sets and stopped bleaching in 2023 after becoming pregnant. After her complexion returned to its natural tone, she faced criticism and abuse from people commenting on her appearance.
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