Reader Sound Off! Why the Nicki & Beyoncé Beauty Standard is WAY Off

January 27th, 2012 - By admin

By Taylor M. Rollins

Lil' Kim a few years back...

It’s never been easy being a black woman in America.

Whether it’s implied or said, black females have always been made to feel less beautiful. As a child, you’re made to think that your hair isn’t straight or nice enough, nor is it worth working with, so I’m sure there are many other women out there who can relate to smelling and feeling a tingling relaxer in their hair. Then TV says your skin isn’t light enough and your nose isn’t slim enough. In America, European beauty standards dominate the media and always have, and we are made to think from a young age that we must modify ourselves to fit these ideals as closely as possible. Beyoncé has worn blonde hair for years and has never, and I mean NEVER, shown off or taken pride in her real hair. If our society weren’t as skewed as it is, long, straight, blonde hair on a black woman would look as ridiculous as an afro would look on a white woman. But it doesn’t. Rumors have been circulating for years that Lil’ Kim has been lightening her skin. And once you look at the most recent photos of her, it’s no longer something you wonder–it’s glaringly obvious. Can’t forget all the surgical changes she’s gone to completely change her face and her natural beauty as a whole.

And then there is, in my opinion, the worst public offender of all: Nicki Minaj. She’s hypersexual and sickeningly ridiculous at times, both in her rhymes and also with her wigs a’plenty (including blonde ones), and colored contacts in green, gray, hazel, and blue. In her songs, she frequently uses the term “nappy-headed” to describe other black women, following this derogatory term with claims that her “kitchen is good,” or “you need a perm-inator.” The rumors are that she has a surgically-modified derrière. She raps in silly voices and accents. She attempts to sing with the help of heavy auto-tuning–people, she’s the definition of artificial. And it might not be so bad to me if for every Nicki Minaj we had Lauryn Hills, Erykah Badus, Janelle Monaes and Corinne Bailey Raes who achieve a similar level of mainstream success, proud of their culture and what they look like. But at this moment in time, Nicki Minaj is the only mainstream female hip-hop artist receiving attention. Her fans, who appropriately call themselves “Barbies,” defend and idolize her fervently. And no one sees anything wrong here. When Don Imus used the term “nappy headed hoes,” it caused a controversy. However, Nicki Minaj uses it frequently, and not only are there no protestors, no side eyes, no questions, but people SING ALONG.

This is what we’re being exposed to. This is what is subconsciously increasing our inferiority complex. And I can’t support it. I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with colored contacts, colored hair, or extensions. But it becomes a problem when you’re using them to cover up insecurities about your natural appearance. Having pride in your natural hair texture, skin, eye, and hair color isn’t always easy for black women, but I believe that it is absolutely essential. And when the standards of black beauty are being based on these entertainers who rarely embrace their natural beauty, this is when it starts to become a problem. And while fans may argue that it’s “only entertainment,” entertainment and the influence of the people who provide it can be one of the most powerful forces in the world.

If there’s anything going on in the world (that relates to women) that you would like to sound off on, please e-mail us at editors@madamenoire.com.

More on Madame Noire!

Tags:

, , , , , , ,

Madame Noire Video

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

← Older Comments
  • Coolflexa

    Lil Kim is not trying to look lkie a white woman.  She’s trying to look like Faith Evans. Can’t say the same for Nicki…

  • Love_Sexy

    Very interesting article MN because me and a friend was talking about this topic the other day…..I do not think that most black celebrities  (or non celebrities) alter their appearances to meet the white standard of beauty…..I think its a style they may want to achieve or are attracted to…..However it maybe a small portion of people who (such as the question raised) have personal issues with their appearance and feeling white is more attractive………Also let us not forget that whether you are white or black (or whatever race) there are people who do have some very deep serious issues about their looks………The prime example is Demi Moore who is allegedly suffering from an eating disorder……. I do understand the writer was focusing on the black community however its across the board now as far as the issue of beauty and making alterations to one’s self.

  • WHOAREYOU

    I never thought about it this way, soooo true!

  • Alicia906

    I slightly agree and at the
    same time disagree with this article. I am not a fan of Nicki Fake Ass,
    but her “Barbie” fans are no different than Lady Gaga’s “Little
    Monsters.” Fads are fun and part of entertainment culture. Now,
    my rebuttal. What the author of this article calls “European” standard
    is a crock of crap. Look at luscious chocolate super model Iman. She has
    not one stitch of European blood in her except for husband David Bowey.
    My point is that anyone of any background with scientifically
    symmetrical features will be attractive. The nose does not have to be
    pointy, just small. Most Europeans have large noses. Full lips and a
    curvy body are a sign of youth and fertility and anyone not European.
    These are the features of Beyonce and Nicki despite the caramel skin
    tone they (and also myself) were born into. So to me, calling
    the most attractive features of people “European” is bullshit.
    Especially, when Africa is the birth place of humankind. Now I am not
    about to go so far to say that the European beauty standard should be
    called the African beauty standard or the Asian beauty standard or the
    Hispanic/Latin Beauty standard or the Native American Beauty standard or
    the Indian beauty standard etc, because lets face it. It is a fact that
    all of these races were here before very fair skinned Caucasians.
    People get their features from their environment. Literally. The human
    body adapts to survive and because of the food/ local diet.
    Nicki’s Fashion designer got the barbi idea from Lil Kim. Lil Kim
    designer got the Barbi idea from Japanese Anime. Big Bold Crazy Colored
    Hair and outfits so the fans of anime could distinguish characters. It s
    simply fun to dress that way. I wish people would stop giving credit to Europeans for the beauty of the world. It comes from everyone.
    I noticed she didn’t say anything about Kelly Rowland. Ya damn right.
    That Girl is HOT and embraces her darkness. Work it Hot Dark Roasted
    CoCo Liscous!

    • mscoco04

      girl, quit with all this nonsense you just spat out…this article is right on!!!…we as blacks are made to feel that in order to be accepted in this society we have to have what white people feel is a safe look: straight hair, skinny body, non-chalant attitude, etc….we have completely lost our culture and the only ones of us they put on high are the ones who try to look more like them and degrade us more…open your eyes honey…this is their world, but it doesn’t mean we can’t be who God made us to be…and what is this mess about features coming from their environment?…last I checked, my nose hadn’t evolved to look like the side of a tree stump!!!…pick up some books and do some real history searching before you say anything remotely stupid like this again!!!…we should all be able to live on this earth being the way we were born to be and be accepted for that, not because we’re trying to be something we’re not…

  • Alicia906

    I slightly agree and at the
    same time disagree with this article. I am not a fan of Nicki Fake Ass,
    but her “Barbie” fans are no different than Lady Gaga’s “Little
    Monsters.” Fads are fun and part of entertainment culture. Now,
    my rebuttal. What the author of this article calls “European” standard
    is a crock of crap. Look at luscious chocolate super model Iman. She has
    not one stitch of European blood in her except for husband David Bowey.
    My point is that anyone of any background with scientifically
    symmetrical features will be attractive. The nose does not have to be
    pointy, just small. Most Europeans have large noses. Full lips and a
    curvy body are a sign of youth and fertility and anyone not European.
    These are the features of Beyonce and Nicki despite the caramel skin
    tone they (and also myself) were born into. So to me, calling
    the most attractive features of people “European” is bullshit.
    Especially, when Africa is the birth place of humankind. Now I am not
    about to go so far to say that the European beauty standard should be
    called the African beauty standard or the Asian beauty standard or the
    Hispanic/Latin Beauty standard or the Native American Beauty standard or
    the Indian beauty standard etc, because lets face it. It is a fact that
    all of these races were here before very fair skinned Caucasians.
    People get their features from their environment. Literally. The human
    body adapts to survive and because of the food/ local diet.
    Nicki’s Fashion designer got the barbi idea from Lil Kim. Lil Kim
    designer got the Barbi idea from Japanese Anime. Big Bold Crazy Colored
    Hair and outfits so the fans of anime could distinguish characters. It s
    simply fun to dress that way. I wish people would stop giving credit to Europeans for the beauty of the world. It comes from everyone.
    I noticed she didn’t say anything about Kelly Rowland. Ya damn right.
    That Girl is HOT and embraces her darkness. Work it Hot Dark Roasted
    CoCo Liscous!

  • cake211

    I mostly agree with this article. Nicki Minaj and Bey are the standards of black beauty in today’s culture because theyre the ONLY constant images. The message sent to people is that in order to be accepted and recognized they have to look the part. Nicki Minaj has had a MAJOR influence on culture, if you don’t realize it, look at the black teenage girls on the block- they all have the bangs, the neon hair pieces, wearing off-color lipstick. 
    As far as Bey, i think it’s more of a persona thats being emulated and imitated. (For the record, Bey has worn her natural hair in her Destiny’s Child days) Everybody who doesn’t wanna be a Barbie, wants to be a DIVA. They want tell a man he betta put a ring on it or go to the left to the left, they wanna run the world (girls) even if they even run their own lives. Bey is a picture of constant perfection- people wanna raid the wig crypt. 
    As far as the parenting thing, that excuse only works for so long. The fact of the matter is part of growing up is navigating the real world, the world outside of what your parents created. Music has always been a huge part of that because it’s not just the entertainment of the sound, it’s what the entire culture represents whether it’s punk rock or hip hop. Parents can and should influence as much as they can but some day, a kid has to make that choice on their own- and its not always gonna be what momma said, most times its the exact OPPOSITE lol
    That being said, I do wholeheartedly believe that the industry is doing an injustice by only allowing what they perceive to be the black female experience be magnified to the nth degree. and today that image is the strong black woman whos in charge and the black girl that has to be extreme to fit in.

  • cake211

    I mostly agree with this article. Nicki Minaj and Bey are the standards of black beauty in today’s culture because theyre the ONLY constant images. The message sent to people is that in order to be accepted and recognized they have to look the part. Nicki Minaj has had a MAJOR influence on culture, if you don’t realize it, look at the black teenage girls on the block- they all have the bangs, the neon hair pieces, wearing off-color lipstick. 
    As far as Bey, i think it’s more of a persona thats being emulated and imitated. (For the record, Bey has worn her natural hair in her Destiny’s Child days) Everybody who doesn’t wanna be a Barbie, wants to be a DIVA. They want tell a man he betta put a ring on it or go to the left to the left, they wanna run the world (girls) even if they even run their own lives. Bey is a picture of constant perfection- people wanna raid the wig crypt. 
    As far as the parenting thing, that excuse only works for so long. The fact of the matter is part of growing up is navigating the real world, the world outside of what your parents created. Music has always been a huge part of that because it’s not just the entertainment of the sound, it’s what the entire culture represents whether it’s punk rock or hip hop. Parents can and should influence as much as they can but some day, a kid has to make that choice on their own- and its not always gonna be what momma said, most times its the exact OPPOSITE lol
    That being said, I do wholeheartedly believe that the industry is doing an injustice by only allowing what they perceive to be the black female experience be magnified to the nth degree. and today that image is the strong black woman whos in charge and the black girl that has to be extreme to fit in.

  • Natural Beauty

    was this a bash nicki minaj article or actually something that was SUPPOSED to speak on unrealistic beauty standards for black/afro-american women? The title of this article doesn’t even fit the content of what is being spoken about.

    First, I would hardly classify anything that Nicki Minaj does, says, or wears (clothes, wigs, contacts) as a “beauty standard”. The media doesn’t even push what Nicki looks like as something we ( black women) should aspire to emulate. Nicki clearly looks like a clown. 

    If anything, the Beyonce beauty standard was a more realistic way to approach this article being that SHE is actually someone who media outlets as well as fashion and beauty columnists have consistently pushed down our throats ever since her destiny child days. 

    Overall, I guess I can see where this was trying to go but the writer failed miserably. Nicki is constantly in “costume”, its clear that she doesn’t walk around looking like bozo the clown all day. Beyonce has a more “realistic” look and obviously she isn’t ripping out her weave right after she leaves the stage.

    Even so, this “beauty standard” that the writer tried to point out isn’t the fault of entertainers rather than the fault of society, media, ignorance, and ourselves. I’m a woman, I’m natural, I don’t rock weaves, wigs, fake nails, lashes, color contacts, etc. (Although I love make-up). While entertainers (of all genres) perpetuate “un-natural” standards of beauty particularly those of black women we can only find fault in ourselves. There are more “regular” people than entertainers. If there needs to be a change then it needs to start with the majority.

  • Natural Beauty

    was this a bash nicki minaj article or actually something that was SUPPOSED to speak on unrealistic beauty standards for black/afro-american women? The title of this article doesn’t even fit the content of what is being spoken about.

    First, I would hardly classify anything that Nicki Minaj does, says, or wears (clothes, wigs, contacts) as a “beauty standard”. The media doesn’t even push what Nicki looks like as something we ( black women) should aspire to emulate. Nicki clearly looks like a clown. 

    If anything, the Beyonce beauty standard was a more realistic way to approach this article being that SHE is actually someone who media outlets as well as fashion and beauty columnists have consistently pushed down our throats ever since her destiny child days. 

    Overall, I guess I can see where this was trying to go but the writer failed miserably. Nicki is constantly in “costume”, its clear that she doesn’t walk around looking like bozo the clown all day. Beyonce has a more “realistic” look and obviously she isn’t ripping out her weave right after she leaves the stage.

    Even so, this “beauty standard” that the writer tried to point out isn’t the fault of entertainers rather than the fault of society, media, ignorance, and ourselves. I’m a woman, I’m natural, I don’t rock weaves, wigs, fake nails, lashes, color contacts, etc. (Although I love make-up). While entertainers (of all genres) perpetuate “un-natural” standards of beauty particularly those of black women we can only find fault in ourselves. There are more “regular” people than entertainers. If there needs to be a change then it needs to start with the majority.

  • clarissa

    Okay on that beyonce stuff. Too bad she has rocked braids, including micros for YEAAARSS, fro wigs, brown hair, brown and blonde hair. It’s just that blonde is her signature look. She was wearing brown hair in if i were a boy, telephone and sweet dreams just to name a few. #stanning lmao. 

  • clarissa

    Okay on that beyonce stuff. Too bad she has rocked braids, including micros for YEAAARSS, fro wigs, brown hair, brown and blonde hair. It’s just that blonde is her signature look. She was wearing brown hair in if i were a boy, telephone and sweet dreams just to name a few. #stanning lmao. 

  • Devraealur

    All I know is from the moment I had a daughter I made a great effort for her to love her hair and her skintone. While my hair is a curly afro, hers is more course but is pretty long. I always keep it done and pretty. She even gets comments from strangers about her thick beautiful hair. But it only took one time of innocently watching the movie Tangled (Rapunzel) to undue much of what I had taught her. So I do believe that media has a way of undoing parent’s teachings. As a teacher of kindergarten and parent to a five year old, it is hard to protect children from their peers and if the peers are watching celebrities than it is even harder to combat. For instance, after the tangled incident, my friend came over with her daughter. My friend is mixed with asian and the daughter is very darkskin with hair to her waist. She came over and bragged about her long hair. Though her mother checked her, I had to do some damage control. Hopefully it worked. Only time will tell. The point is, it is easy to say “be a parent to your child” but when u are not around, damage can and will be done. Hopefully you are aware of it and can fight back. This article shed light on a very real issue. Most celebrities dont look like or express their true nature. It would be nice to see more realistic images celebrated and in the forfront.

  • Ms.B

    If a woman prefers a weave to dreads, or a blond lace front to an Afro let her be. Why does it have to be a sign of self hate or low self esteem?
    if a woman FEELS beautiful the way she chooses to wear her hair, make up, clothes, etc, then that should be what matters. By telling women that unless they retain their “authenticity” they have low self esteem, or they are feeding into th hype that only white is beautiful is wrong.

    While it is wonderful to stay exactly the way God made us, i think the WHY matters more than the WHAT.

    And we are all to blame for iolizing the beyonces, nickis, of the world. NOthing wrong with liking your celebrities, but what ever happened to looking up to women who accomplish more than a number one single or a L’oreal endorsement.

    • mscoco04

      I think you’re missing the point the article is making…there’s nothing wrong in and of itself with these things, it’s when you have these images being perpetuated as the main standard of what beauty is then there’s a problem…you see, we weren’t all born with straigh, blonde hair, and when women such as Nicky M starts calling other people of ethnicity nappy headed and it’s okay and even funny to most, that’s where the line needs to be drawn…the problem is that they push these women’s images more than that of WAAAY better performers who do not have a caucasian-esque look….it’s all about image true…but who’s image?

← Older Comments