Nollywood star Habibat Jinadu admitted in a BBC Yoruba interview that she bleached her skin to meet the industry’s preferred look, saying that dark‑skinned and slim actresses find it hard to land roles.
Jinadu explained that the pressure to conform to a lighter complexion and a certain body type pushed her to take the step. “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,” she said.
She said she waited for opportunities after bleaching, and soon began receiving roles. However, the change made it difficult for people to recognise her off‑screen. “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,” she recalled.
Despite the success, Jinadu was unhappy with the practice and continued bleaching while building her career. She also noted that the practice caused physical harm, with injuries and skin tears from minor bruises on sets.
The turning point came in 2023 when she became pregnant and could no longer bleach. “It all dawned on me when I got pregnant in 2023. And when you are pregnant, you cannot bleach your skin,” she said. After stopping, she faced criticism and abuse over her changed appearance.
Jinadu’s story highlights the ongoing challenges faced by actresses in Nollywood regarding beauty standards and the lengths some go to in order to secure roles.
