SNAPS | Here’s what went down at the Nivea your shade of beautiful soirée

Nivea recently launched a campaign that seeks to honour and recognise all shades of beauty with their products.

The brand chose five women to represent this new chapter. They are Aisha Baker, Shudufhadzo Musida, Shekhinah, Vongai Mapho, and Anarzade Omar.

Aisha and Shekinah did a young Q&A with TshisaLIVE. 

Aisha Baker

What is your personal definition of beauty?

I don’t think beauty can be defined. It’s a feeling, attitude or mood for me. 

What does it mean to you to celebrate all shades of brown/black as you celebrate your shade of beautiful?

Growing up as a Cape Malay woman my heritage is so incredibly mixed that it was sometimes hard to find the beauty in such a mixed ancestry. I didn’t always feel represented in mainstream media settings so showing young people they are represented shifts that narrative and hopefully allows black and brown girls to see their beauty within themselves.

What challenges have you had to overcome in terms of your skin?

I’ve had to overcome not having a fully even skin tone like some of my friends. Naturally as a teenager we would compare ourselves to our friends and having darker patches on my skin kind of made me self-conscious. As a grown woman I no longer notice those patches as I’ve learnt that what truly matters most is being a good person inside. 

What do you wish you knew earlier in life in terms of how to best take care of your skin?

I come from Cape Town so I spent a lot of time on the beach and in the sun. I wish growing up I took the time to really take care of the appearance of my skin by not only moisturising but also protecting it from the sun and harsher elements after outdoor activities. After having my children and in my 30s I would not go a day without moisturising and oiling up .

In terms of your career, what is in the pipeline? What should your fans get excited about?

I’m not sure where the wind will take me. I’m very focused on raising my children and supporting my husband as he fulfils his dreams as a professional cricketer. I’m learning to let go of planning too much since the pandemic shook things up for us.

Shekinah

The award-winning musician  her personal definition of beauty is “embracing who you are. Nobody can be you — that’s the beauty of it all is that you are a one of one”.

What does it mean to celebrate all shades of brown/black as you celebrate your shade of beautiful?

 “I think at the age that I’m in, 28, celebrating my shade of brown/black is  being comfortable with my skin colour and owning it. Growing up I had a complex about always wanting to be darker skinned or lighter skinned and never really happy with the colour  I was. Now I confidently own being a brown-skinned girl and it shows by how far I’ve come with accepting my skin as I want to be seen whereas I use to hide and not show much of myself. Celebrating all shades of brown/back is a big deal. For me it means growth.

What challenges or struggles have you had to overcome in terms of your skin?

My challenges growing up in a white household and  feeling like having black/brown skin was taboo. Then going to school and having brown skin but not having all the other attributes that come with brown skin, that left me feeling very uncomfortable about my skin. 

What do you wish you knew earlier in life in terms of how to best take care of your skin?

Putting on lotion, moisturising and drinking water is as important as bathing and brushing your teeth.

In terms of your career, what is in the pipeline. What should your fans get excited about?

I think my fans can always be excited for new music, a new project. We like to work project by project and we’re working on a new project at the moment and that’s pretty exciting.