We're certain it's the combination of Lupita Nyong'o's incredible talent (see: Academy Award) and killer looks (see: red carpet slayage) that have landed her on the cover of Glamour's 24th Women of the Year cover.
However
the Kenyan actress, who is being honored at the magazine's annual
star-studded event on November 10 in New York City, has also captured
our hearts with her outspoken stance on standards of beauty. And the Lancome spokeswoman chatted candidly about her views in Glamour's December issue.
“European
standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world -- the
idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to
success and love," Nyong'o told Glamour. "Africa is no exception."
While Nyong'o has encountered colorism in her adult life, it's been a issue she's dealt with from childhood.
"When
I was in the second grade, one of my teachers said, ‘Where are you
going to find a husband? How are you going to find someone darker than
you?’ I was mortified, the 32-year-old actress told Glamour. "I remember
seeing a commercial where a woman goes for an interview and doesn’t get
the job. Then she puts a cream on her face to lighten her skin, and she
gets the job! This is the message: that dark skin is unacceptable. I
definitely wasn’t hearing this from my immediate family -- my mother
never said anything to that effect -- but the voices from the television
are usually much louder than the voices of your parents.”
Sad, but true. You
can read more of Lupita's interview when the issue hits newsstands on
November 11. In the meantime, here's a look at Lupita's stunning cover.
I AM A BLACK AMERIKKKAN WHO 32 YEARS AGO WENT BACK TO AFRICA/YORUBALAND/NIGERIA TO RAISE 4 OF MY 5 CHILDREN AS CULTURALLY BASED YORUBA CHILDREN WITH THE LANGUAGE AS THEIR MOTHER TONGUE.