Ajuma Nasenyana

[simplylovely]

She's back! Im so excited! She looks incredible in the marie claire spread.

 

[UrbanFashionista]

^ its great to see her back!

 

[Deleted member 1957]

love that ed very femme fatale, the makeup at Issey Miyake is quite pretty

 

[leslie]

Alexander McQueen S/S 05 (HQ)


celebcity

 

[Nefertiti87]

[FONT=&quot]Marc Bouwer New York SS 2007


[/FONT][FONT=&quot]celebritycity[/FONT]

 

[supermodel]

Kenyan model Ajuma Nasenyana fights skin lightening and European standards of beauty

From Clutch Magazine – Like many other parts of the world, Africa is no stranger to European standards of beauty. The practice of skin lightening is becoming rampant in many African countries as some folks go to drastic lengths to shed their dark complexions for lighter, “more acceptable” ones. And from advertising and magazines, to TV and film, the black aesthetics are being pushed out, while European standards of beauty — blonde hair, blue eyes — are becoming more mainstream.

“It seems that the world is conspiring in preaching that there is something wrong with Kenyan ladies’ kinky hair and dark skin,” Kenyan model Ajuma Nasenyana told the Daily Nation.

Nasenyana wonders why European skincare companies that push lightening creams are entering Kenya marketing the European standard of beauty.

“Their leaflets are all about skin lightening, and they seem to be doing good business in Kenya. It just shocks me. It’s not OK for a Caucasian to tell us to lighten our skin,” she said.

Despite her beauty and that of women like her, Nasenyana is dismayed that while she is heralded abroad for her dark skin, at home she is seen as less than ideal.

“I have never attempted to change my skin. I am natural. People in Europe and America love my dark skin. But here in Kenya, in my home country, some consider it not attractive,” she lamented.

Instead of simply being disgusted with the growing contempt some have for their own skin, Nasenyana takes every opportunity she has to speak out against skin lightening and discrimination in the modeling world. She is also very critical of the Western media’s influence over Kenyans and concedes they are constantly being bombarded by magazines and advertisements that praise lighter skin.

“When you flip through fashion magazines like Vogue and only see white models, then you get the feeling on what is happening to black models. It is not fair,” she explained.

But Nasenyana, who has modeled for everyone from Victoria Secret to Carlos Mienes, isn’t just speaking out. The reining South African Fashion Week Model of the Year is also thinking of launching a line of cosmetics and natural skincare products for black women. Her hopes? That her products can inspire her peers to love their skin instead of bleach it.

Let’s hope it works.

[the grio]

 

[Nefertiti87]

Manish Arora London SS 2007


celebritycity

 

[seamnoir]

^I think Colorism is as much a problem in The States as it is abroad. I, mean, has she listened to a rap song lately?

Beautiful body, beautiful face. Too bad she looks better runway than editorial.

 

[Nefertiti87]

Heatherette New York SS 2007


celebritycity

 

[Deleted member 1957]

^I think Colorism is as much a problem in The States as it is abroad. I, mean, has she listened to a rap song lately?

I believe its worse here, apart from tribes where people look like her other tribes usually frown on her skin tone. Thats why you'll never see a beauty queen or model in an African non high fashion commercial that looks like her

 

[Deleted member 1957]

tonight is the FAFA fashion show and shes part of the organizing comittee.

pics FAFA fb page

she was also a model at the Mercedes Benz Africa fashion week
pics ajuma nasenyana fb page

the sunday times

 

[Deleted member 1957]

here she is on the runway earlier today for the FAFA show
pics capitalfm kenya fb page

 

[simplylovely]

Show Package – Paris F/W 13: City (Women)

models​

 

[simplylovely]

Steffie Christiaens - Runway - PFW F/W 2013

gettyimages​

 

[simplylovely]

Vivienne Westwood - Runway - PFW F/W 2013

style​

 

[simplylovely]

stylebistro​

 

[stellarnostalgia]

Super strong!

Giambattista Valli F/W 2013


vogue

 

[simplylovely]

Ugh so stunning!

 

[LANZO_358]

She's otherworldly stunning!!!!!

 

[jeremydante]

like a combination of grace jones + alek wek. stunning in the giambattista valli show!!