The model from the controversial new Dove ad just spoke up about her experience
While many of Dove’s ads have celebrated inclusivity, the company released a controversial and upsetting video the other day. And while the brand has taken down the ad and released an apology, the incident sparked an ongoing conversation about how advertisers should always make sure to properly represent women of color.
One of the models who took part in the shoot, Lola Ogunyemi, recently made her opinion on the ad were heard. In a wonderful essay penned for The Guardian, Ogunyemi expressed how it felt to gain the opportunity, and how things crumbled when the internet saw the ad through Facebook.
Ogunyemi started out the essay by telling her readers a bit about herself.
"I am a Nigerian woman, born in London and raised in Atlanta," she said. "I’ve grown up very aware of society’s opinion that dark-skinned people, especially women, would look better if our skin were lighter."
Ogunyemi said that when she was offered the “opportunity to represent my dark-skinned sisters in a global beauty brand,” she said yes right away. For the model, it was the perfect opportunity to remind women of color that they’re beautiful and, more importantly, valued.
Unfortunately, things took a turn when the model woke up to the internet’s outrage.
"If you Google 'racist ad' right now, a picture of my face is the first result," she wrote. "I had been excited to be a part of the commercial and promote the strength and beauty of my race, so for it to be met with widespread outrage was upsetting."
An image we recently posted on Facebook missed the mark in representing women of color thoughtfully. We deeply regret the offense it caused.
— Dove (@Dove) October 7, 2017
Lol did this even look right to y'all? I mean your whole team sat down and cleared this bullshit right here? How? pic.twitter.com/WzsZfpkxAr
— Nkululeko Ncube (@UNcubeOthungayo) October 7, 2017
Ogunyemi said that if she knew how the images would be perceived after they were shot, she never would have accepted the opportunity. But she made sure to state that her time spent with Dove was nothing but positive.
"I can see how the snapshots that are circulating the web have been misinterpreted, considering the fact that Dove has faced a backlash in the past for the exact same issue," she said. "There is a lack of trust here, and I feel the public was justified in their initial outrage. Having said that, I can also see that a lot has been left out."
We love the fact that Ogunyemi told the story from her perspective. Her reasons for shooting the ad were admirable, and we hope the backlash doesn’t prevent her from wanting to appear in future beauty campaigns.
