They say kids learn what they see, be it in real life or on television, and this is true to some extent. With brands promoting fair, flawless skin and toned bodies as important features of a beautiful woman, these unrealistic beauty standards have subconsciously registered in everyone’s mind be it young or old. Additionally, the lack of representation of people of colour and different body types have made many of us believe in stereotypes of beauty too. Probably that’s the reason why this 4-year-old girl thinks ‘she is ugly’.
In a viral video, the little girl named Ariyonna is seen getting her hair done by a hairstylist named Shabria. When she saw herself in a video being recorded on Shabria’s phone, she instantly said, “I’m so ugly,” reported Mail Online.
Shocked by the little girl’s comment, Shabria quickly told Ariyonna that it wasn’t true.
“Don’t say that. You’re so pretty. When you look at yourself, you’re supposed to say, ‘I’m so pretty’. Do you hear me? You’ve the prettiest little dimples. You are too cute”
On hearing Shabria call her beautiful, Ariyonna couldn’t control her tears. The heartbroken Shabria then takes Ariyonna in her arms and tells her, “You’re gonna make me cry! You’re not ugly!”
For the next few minutes, Shabria is seen consoling the sobbing girl saying all kinds of positive things. “You have beautiful chocolatey skin. You’re the prettiest girl in your class. Black is beautiful and if nobody tells you, I am telling you, you are beautiful. You’re going to grow up and you’re going to be everything that you can be.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9g2v0WFbSK/
People online were appalled by what the kid thought of herself. They flooded the video with positive messages for the little girl.
WHO IS TELLING THIS LIL ANGEL BABY THAT SHE’S UGLY?! pic.twitter.com/j06ch4kQKU
— bbw of house stark ❄️ (@yawningemoji) March 6, 2020
I need her to know that she is beautiful! Broke my heart to hear her say that.
— 𝕁𝕖𝕤𝕤 🧘🏽♀️ (@jess_dfm) March 7, 2020
She’s so beautiful. I hope people who surround her continue to tell her this, because one day she’s going be able to tell herself and know it. 🥺❤️
— The Hive 🧚♀️ (@beyicon) March 6, 2020
I honor that woman for stopping what she was doing & addressing that right then. That's how you handle that. Lift them up!
— Ms. Imani Is #MaskedUp (@ImaniKushan) March 7, 2020
it’s important to instill in dark skin black girls that they are beautiful and loved cause the world will be ugly. this made my heart cry🥺
— misandrist azula stan (@milkcherrie) March 6, 2020
The video also sparked a debate around the representation of colour and diversity in society. Many also pointed out that Ariyonna thinks less of herself because she hasn’t seen people like her represented well in TV, magazines etc.
You know what’s funny, is she may have NEVER had anyone tell her that she is ugly.
She may have just witnessed the adoration of girls that don’t look like her.
People think kids don’t pick up on that kind of stuff. But they are highly intuitive.
Representation matters!— Gailonda Adams (@GailzHurst) March 6, 2020
Society tells black women how physically unappealing (according to society) we are at a VERY young age. This gets internalized and reinforced in tv, social media, music, everywhere. Many of us have to actively unlearn how we feel about the way we look. Many of us never do.
— 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓵𝓪𝔁 (@jubilantsleep) March 6, 2020
Colorism needs to be dismantled from the Black community. Period. https://t.co/RjtYnKp1ug
— Jason (Your Gay BFF) (@EscaflowneClown) March 7, 2020
The hairdresser also later shared another video of Ariyonna where she says, “I’m black and beautiful.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9kqNNXlsX-/
Although a lot has been spoken and done about the changing beauty norms, this episode does highlight that a lot needs to be done at the earliest so that little girls like her don’t lose their confidence and self-esteem.