Ever since  Lupita Nyong’o was named People magazine’s “Most Beautiful Person” people have been reminded of her poignant speech at this year’s Essence magazine  Black Women In Hollywood speech. In it, the 31 year old  Academy  Award winning actress talked about being a young teenager and how badly she wanted to have lighter skin.

“I remember a time when I felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin. And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned. The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I had been the day before.”

These days Nyong’o seems more accepting of the color of her skin. And so is Lancôme. This month the cosmetic giant named  Nyong’o as the new face of the Lancome line.

PRP