MAKEUP ENTHUSIASTS AND ‘Gram-A-Holics alike will be familar with the #BratzChallenge. All over the world, people have been attempting to paint their faces to look like Barbie’s bratty cousin.
However, some MUAs have been criticised for taking it too far, by recreating looks based on dolls with vitiligo, when they don’t have the condition themselves.
Vitiligo is a skin condition characterised by patches of the skin losing their pigment. The patches of skin usually turn white and form sharp margins. Model Winnie Harlow has brought vitiligo to the forefront through her work and activism.
The ‘America’s Next Top Model’ previously said she’s “very sick” of talking about her skin and that the emotional and physical effects of vitiligo aren’t as deep as the media seems to make them.
And while Harlow’s been quick to pull up newspapers who refer to her as a “sufferer”, it’s still undeniably dodge of makeup influencers to use the condition in an attempt to get more attention.
Lauren Elyse, a MUA with vitiligo, outlined her issue with this particular interpretation with the challenge on Twitter.
“I’m really fucking tired of this shit,” she tweeted initially. “I don’t need someone who doesn’t have it to “celebrate” it or “raise awareness”.
There are plenty of us out there who are doing that who are barely seen, yet people who decide to mimic it are. It’s not even about what we went through growing up, but also what we experience NOW.”
Opening up on her Instagram, she continued: “These people who mimic skin conditions get praise for being ‘creative’ and ‘artistic’ and ‘unique’ while those of us who actually have it are still being disrespected and harassed by people.
I understand that their intentions are good, but we do not need people who don’t have it to tell us how beautiful we are – we have each other for that.”
In summary, this isn’t ‘blackface’ levels of ignorance, but rather a misguided attempt to shine a light on beauty standards within a saturated industry. Instead of taking features of those less represented to use on your own platform, maybe just … Share your platform with the under represented?
