Nollywood-born actress Folake Olowofoyeku has sparked an important conversation about colorism and deeply ingrained beauty standards in Nigeria, revealing that her perception of beauty — and how others perceived her — drastically changed after she moved to the United States.
Speaking candidly during a recent conversation, Folake shared that growing up in Nigeria, she was rarely, if ever, told she was beautiful. According to her, affirmation only became consistent after relocating to America, where beauty ideals appeared broader and less restrictive than what she experienced back home.
Her revelation sheds light on a long-standing issue in many African societies: the preference for lighter skin tones and Eurocentric features. In Nigeria, these standards often manifest subtly within families and communities, shaping self-esteem from a very young age.
Comedian and podcast host Godfrey added another striking layer to the discussion, revealing that some Nigerians pinch their babies’ noses in hopes of making them appear narrower as they grow. While often dismissed as harmless or cultural, the practice underscores how early these beauty biases are introduced — even before children can form their own identities.
Actress Folake Olowofoyeku exposes colorism in Nigeria & says she wasn’t called beautiful consistently until moving to America, with Godfrey revealing Nigerians pinch their babies noses to make them look less wide & more narrow.
(One54 Africa/YouTube)
pic.twitter.com/vHd282KmSk— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) January 17, 2026
I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia.
| Posted: at |
|