Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
Ariana Grande is no stranger when it comes to making headlines. This year alone the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist became the youngest female to headline Coachella, had a few chart-topping hits, and positioned herself as an advocate for women’s rights. Adding another notch under her belt, Grande served face as the covergirl of Vogue Magazine’s August 2019 issue. Clad in an oversized black hat, the songbird looked noticeably darker.
Grande has always been one of those racially ambiguous artists that made music that could reach all genres of music. On several occasions I’ve questioned whether she was mixed or just a white woman with pronounced melanin in her skin. After some research, I learned that Grande was born in Florida. She eventually relocated to California as her career began to take off. Both of her parents are of Italian descent. While caucasians can range in color, Italians are typically known for their darker skin.
Still, Grande’s skin seems to get darker as her career gets bigger. Fans took notice when Vogue posted their latest cover girl. One person wrote, “Why is she brown?” Another person joked, “Africana grande.” “Why tf does she look like a woman of color tho? Chill with the tanning Ari,” suggested another Instagram user. Some think this is a classic case of blackfishing, and others feel its an innocent addiction to spray tanner. The world’s infatuation with having darker skin should be admirable but in truth, it presents a problem when we are still battling injustice and inequality because of our skin color. To some, its just a tan. For others, it represents how much our skin and culture is acceptable on everyone else but us.
Whatever the case is, there’s a noticeable difference between Grande in 2010 and Grande in 2019. Take a look at her complexion evolution on the flip.
