Nollywood actress Habibat Jinadu has revealed that she bleached her skin to improve her chances of securing movie roles, citing discrimination against dark-skinned actresses in the film industry.
Jinadu made the disclosure during an interview with BBC Yoruba, where she recounted how some movie directors preferred fair-skinned and chubby actresses to dark-skinned and slim performers.
She said the repeated rejection affected her confidence, particularly after an individual compared her dark complexion to that of a monkey.
“Back then, if you were not fair, nobody would call you for jobs,” she said.
The actress added that directors often complained about her complexion whenever filming lights were switched on, telling her that she was too dark.
Jinadu said the experience eventually pushed her to bleach her skin in an attempt to improve her chances of getting acting opportunities. She noted that the decision initially helped her secure more roles.
However, she said the change affected how people recognised her outside movie sets, with some only finding her appearance familiar.
The actress also disclosed that she began experiencing skin injuries, including tears from minor bruises, while working on movie sets.
According to her, she reconsidered the practice in 2023 after becoming pregnant and subsequently stopped bleaching her skin.
Jinadu said her decision to return to her natural complexion also attracted criticism, with some people insulting her and calling her derogatory names.
Her account has highlighted the appearance-related pressures she said dark-skinned actresses faced while seeking opportunities in Nollywood, as well as the personal challenges she experienced in trying to meet industry preferences.
