Why India's Fair Skin Business Is Booming

India is home to Bollywood, the world's most prolific movie industry. For those who dream of stardom, landing a leading role may depend on the color of your skin. India's preference for fair skin has given rise to a skin-lightening industry worth nearly $500 million dollars.

VICE's Gianna Toboni heads to Mumbai to find out how this cultural bias is fueling the booming business of fairer skin.



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[FB-bosj]

" i think i am brown"
The lady says shes very fair and the actress says
" thank you"
Tht shows her mindset

[HerbnAura]

The Indian actress received being called “fair” as a compliment and even told the reporter “thank you”. This speaks volumes.

[crookedpaths]

In Asia, tanned skin is associated with labouring, outdoors in the fields.
In the West, tanned skin is associated with exotic holidays and leisure activities

[stargazingbot]

The actress said "Thank you" at 5:40 when the reporter called her "very fair". It verifies how fair skin is considered better or that being fair is something to be proud of. Colorism is prevalent in Indian society and it's gonna take a long time to change people's mindset.

[vanshdutt]

When the actress said "thank you so much" on being called a 'fair' girl. It spoke everything. Thats the mentality right there.

[tanyagyearsago]

I was born dark, so everybody accused my mother for eating the wrong things when she was pregnant. Imagine hearing this when youre like just a toddler.

[taaliyah]

The girl explaining that she can’t get a job because of her skin is heartbreaking.

[nondescript]

12:37 I felt bad for that girl. She was close to tears. I hope someone gave a hug to her after that and told her the truth. She's a beautiful strong woman and deserves everything the world has to offer

[ilikecoffee]

This piss me off on how they don’t use the actual Indian models when there’s plenty of gorgeous Indian women out there. All because of skin color?! It’s Stupid!

[smileforthecamera]

“You think I’m fair? Thank you very much” lol- that says it all. That chick was a walking embodiment of the culture

[Sharayah]

That lead female actress was trying to hide that she uses the skin bleaching products by playing stupid. She isn’t fooling anyone though.

[wailingalen]

My Vietnamese mother is obsessed about keeping her skin fair. She wears hats and masks and covers her face with an object if she is caught without protection. This bias and business is booming in east and Southeast Asia as well.

This is kind of like the beauty and desirability trend you see in having a golden sun-kissed tan here in America, except the opposite!

[yusra.]

the 'actress' denied lightening creams but then thanks the host when she calls her fair LMAO

[Call-E]

Imagine destroying melanin; the very thing that helps Indians survive the heat and have healthy skin.

[abab]

The interviewer tells the girl that she's fair and the girl says but thank you so much." So it's a compliment in the girl's perspective but in reality it wasn't a compliment....it was a statement.

[monsieurfortuna]

When I was born my mom told me that my relatives came to see me and they said: "How this dark skinned woman gave birth to a light skin baby" they were shocked! relatives are wolves in sheep's clothing!

[aleena.janjua]

Interviewer to the girl: "I think you're very fair"


girl: "THANK YOU SO MUCH"


that answer literally proved the whole point of the research/documentary.

[maloneaqua]

Damn. When she said Indian models are getting booked everywhere but India... wtf does that tell you 😢

[MsAdventurebunny]

the actress was trying to avoid the question while simultaneously ironically being proud about being called fair 😐 at least the guy didn’t BS at the end...

[tomjerry]

I'm by default is a bit fairer than my cousins and they talk about my skin in such an admiring way that I cringe some times, in reality they look far better than me just somehow society has programmed us to think if you are fair you are more beautiful which is ridiculous