When I started modelling, I was criticised for my colour: Amna Ilyas

Amna Ilyas hasn't been ashamed for her skin, or her colour. The model-turned-actor, on multiple occasions, has spoken up about how she was demeaned over her skin colour.

Amna has faced the inescapable white-washing of the entertainment industry from the beginning of her career.

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The actor, who remains unfazed by false notions of beauty, bagged the Best Female Model Lux Style Award in 2015. She used her acceptance speech to disprove the naysayers who told her that she could not make it because she was dark-skinned.

Recently, she shared a throwback video of the aforementioned award with a heartfelt caption.

"Throwing it back because this message is still so relevant! When I started modelling, I was criticised for my color and because of that, I had to work extra hard to prove that my darkness doesn’t mean I’m ugly," she shared.

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"Today I want to say something to the dark skinned girl reading this, you are not ugly. You are beautiful. You are deserving. Our skin tones should be embraced for the distinct beauty it brings. One by one, we can shatter the colonised mindset of light skin is the only skin. It all starts with YOU. Follow your dream and don’t let the world of fairness creams and racism stop you!" Amna added.

Other than Amna, model Mushk Kaleem - who recently walked the coveted Milan Fashion Week - has talked about colour discrimination in the fashion industry.

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