Mahira to Momina: Celebs who never endorsed skin lightening products

Leading faces of showbiz speak up about refusing questionable brand endorsements

Following the recent debate around endorsing skin whitening products a question popped up on Twitter which led many who don't endorse such brands speak up against them.

"Been refusing since I was a VJ till now – never endorsed a skin lightening product," actor Mahira Khan tweeted in response to a query raised by a journalist.

"Can you name me Bollywood/Pakistani stars who have never endorsed a skin lightening product?" Haroon Rashid from BBC had tweeted.

This is a genuine question - can you name me Bollywood/Pakistani stars who have never endorsed a skin lightening product?

— Haroon Rashid (@iHaroonRashid) June 5, 2020

Following this, the Superstar actor responded to another query of his involving celebrities who had endorsed skin lightening products in the past but apologised for their ignorance or lack of knowledge later on.

Khan pointed out how such celebrities should not be highlighted negatively in the present because the cancel culture prevents conversation from taking place and thus, hinders improvement. "No they should not be used as examples in a bad light," she said. "We are quick to cancel, not to converse."

No they should not be used as examples in a bad light. We are quick to cancel, not to converse.

— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) June 5, 2020

Singer Momina Mustehsan went on to reveal that she too, had refused such offers. "I have always turned down all fairness product endorsements. The amount of melanin in your skin has nothing to do with how beautiful you are. If we all responsibly refuse whitening endorsements, it might cause a shift in the market. We have the power to change the narrative," remarked Mustehsan positively.

Same here 🙋🏻‍♀️ Always turned down all fairness product endorsements. The amount of melanin in your skin has nothing to do with how beautiful you are.
If we ALL responsibly refuse whitening endorsements, it might cause a shift in the market. We have the power to change the narrative https://t.co/KSKh1XZ0yB

— Momina Mustehsan (@MominaMustehsan) June 5, 2020

Many other celebrities who felt the same way responded along the same lines. Actor Sanam Saeed and Hareem Farooq confessed to have never endorsed such products. Ayesha Omar also wrote, "Me! I've been refusing offers to endorse various skin whitening products since 12 years. Have a very strong stance against it"

🙋🏽‍♀️

— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) June 5, 2020

🙋🏽‍♀️ https://t.co/xehnz2uIWY

— Hareem Farooq (@FarooqHareem) June 5, 2020

Me! 🙋🏻‍♀️ been refusing offers to endorse various skin whitening products since 12 years. Have a very strong stance against it. https://t.co/UcMJ32L2Do

— Ayesha Omar (@ayesha_m_omar) June 5, 2020

Bollywood actor Banita Sandhu who is brown skinned herself narrated the experience of signing her first contract with a modeling agency in India. She said, "When I first signed to an agency in India, they asked if there was anything I was against endorsing, such as alcohol or tobacco. I told them, skin lightening products. Since then, they've never sent any such endorsement offer my way."

When I first signed to an agency in India, they asked if there was anything I was against endorsing, such as alcohol or tobacco. I told them, skin lightening products; since then, they've never sent any such endorsement offer my way. https://t.co/407JDXON0P

— Banita Sandhu (@BanitaSandhu) June 5, 2020

Rashid went on to commend her for having clarity about such matters from such an early time in her career. But the fact that celebrities refrain from putting out such demands out of the fear of being deemed 'difficult’ is also something that prevents change from occurring at a large.

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