This past Wednesday, MAC posted a photo on their instagram page of a dark skinned black woman with beautifully full lips backstage at their Ohne Titel NYFW presentation. Shortly after, MAC was bombarded with hateful comments towards the model, Stacie Lagum.
We are not even going to post the comments because we refuse to feed into the negativity. It's true that everyone can have an opinion when it comes to their idea of beauty. We see beauty in this shot, but somone else may see something completely different. After all, the popular quote is that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" However, when people begin to badger a woman for her natural features in such an abusive manner, it's wrong, insensitive and it does hurt feelings.
On Thursday, 19-year-old model Maryse Kye, who initially thought it was her in the photo, responded to both the negative and positive comments in an Instagram post. “As I turn 20 in a couple days this is a reminder of what I endured in the past and if I survived middle school in america, I can get over this,” she says. “The bullying and alienation from others solely based on my features and skin color did not stop me from doing what I want.” Applause to you, Maryse, for following your dreams despite the ignorance of others. You ARE beautiful and you are an insiration! Kye acknowledged the goof in a post on Instagram last night, calling it an “honest mistake” as she had worn similar makeup during a show. She stands by her message of inclusivity, however.
Last night, Stacie Lagum acknowledged the situation on her instagram. "My lips giving you sleepless nights on @maccosmetics IG. Thank you @maccosmetics for this killer color and to the makeup artist." You go girl!
Digiday reached out to MAC for comment, with a spokesperson issuing the following statement: “MAC stands for and respects All Ages, All Races, All Sexes. We do not tolerate any abusive comments in our community.” The brand’s Instagram bio too reflect the same stance: “The Official M∙A∙C Cosmetics Instagram. All Ages, All Races, All Sexes.” MAC has also begun removing some of the negative comments from underneath the photo.
The even bigger issue is that situations like this are the main reason why little girls today with full lips and gorgeous dark skin will grow up to have self esteem issues. This is where Beautie Brownie and all of you reading come in. We have to break the cycle. We have to teach our children from birth that they are beautiful in their uniqueness, because there are people who will make them feel otherwise!
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