Entertainment
I Was Not Happy, But I Kept Pushing – Actress Habibat Jinadu Reveals Why She Bleached Her Skin
Nollywood actress Habibat Jinadu has revealed that she bleached her skin because she believed her dark complexion and slim body were limiting her chances of securing acting roles.
The actress made the disclosure during an interview with BBC Yoruba, where she opened up about the pressure she felt to change her appearance to get more opportunities in the entertainment industry.
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According to Jinadu, she believed dark-skinned and slim actresses were often overlooked when casting decisions were made, prompting her to start bleaching her skin in the hope of getting more roles.
She said the decision initially appeared to work, as she began receiving more acting opportunities. However, the change in her appearance also made it difficult for people to recognise her.
She explained:
“I bleached my skin because if you were dark-skinned, then you would not get a role. Also, if you were not chubby but slim, you would not get a role. So, I went ahead, bleached my skin and started expecting to get roles. And indeed, I started getting roles.
“But people could not recognise me any longer. If I stepped out to buy something, people would go like, ‘You look familiar,’ ‘You look like an actress,’ and all sorts. I was not happy with it, but I kept on pushing.”
Jinadu further disclosed that she began experiencing injuries and skin tears from minor bruises while working on movie sets.
She said she eventually stopped bleaching her skin after becoming pregnant in 2023, explaining that she could no longer continue the practice during pregnancy.
However, the actress revealed that stopping the practice exposed her to criticism, as some people began insulting her and calling her different names.
Her account has drawn attention to the appearance-related pressures some actresses face in the entertainment industry and the impact such expectations can have on their personal lives.