The Guardian

Lupita Nyong’o is right: erasing her afro hair exposes the extent of prejudice | Yasmin Jones-Henry

Grazia UK’s editing of the actor’s image recalls the treatment of Solange Knowles. Why do editors remove a black woman’s afro hair and features?
‘They had lightened Lupita Nyong’o’s skin, smoothed the kinks in her hair and removed her frizzy, afro pony tail.’ Photograph: Twitter

Fashion has always been political. How people dress, what they choose to wear, is a reflection of their innermost tastes and preferences. Fashion is an extended form of self-advertisement. For centuries women have used their appearance as a means to exert political influence. Coco Chanel once said: “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” Throughout history a woman’s hair has always mattered when putting together her ensemble.

So when I read – the actor, who , expressed her disappointment that her image had been so significantly altered by Grazia UK – I was surprised at how little it surprised me. They had lightened her skin, smoothed the kinks

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