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Cosmopolitan Pushes White Beauty Standards By Listing Black Women As Beauty “Don’ts”

In further proof that the beauty and fashion world remains completely hell-bent on pushing caucasian beauty as the one and only standard for all, Cosmopolitan magazine recently featured a beauty do’s and don’ts list where it appears the number one beauty don’t is being Black or brown.

In an online article originally published last January, Cosmo counts down “21 Beauty Trends That Need to Die in 2015.” While listing overplayed looks such as almond/stiletto nails, ombre hair, and dramatic eyeliner, editors juxtaposed several Black and latin women on the don’t side with white counterparts serving as examples for the updated “do.”

Taglined with the most recently culture-vultured catchphrase “Bye Felicia!,” the article even goes so far as to list “beyond bronzed skin” as a no-no and instructs readers to reel it in on the tanning. Because it’s totally fine to use urban terminology, styles, and other cultural cues they likely don’t even recognize the origin of…but they wouldn’t want to look TOO brown, now would they?

Even though the article has been up for months, the magazine tweeted out a link to the article yesterday, prompting Twitter users to notice the undertone of the article — many accusing the mag of subtly perpetuating the myth that Black women are unattractive. Needless to say the outrage is real:

Today, Cosmo editors edited the story to include the below “apology:”

A note from the editor: This article focuses on beauty trends with images that represent those trends. Some images have been taken out of context, and we apologize for any offense. Celebrating all women is our mission, and we will continue to work hard to do that.

Which reads more like “sorry you felt that way, but girl get over it.” SMH.

Our bet is that the pics were probably a subconscious decision by whomever put them together — born out of the constant subtle messaging the media sends that “white is right” while pushing caucasian/European standards as the only way to be beautiful. But one really has to wonder how the entire staff of a major magazine could have possibly missed the blatant message pics like this send, and even furthermore how they’re so surprised at the outrage. How is it possible that not one woman of color did anything right (or was “beautiful enough” to be recognized) in the entire 12 months of 2014?

Though it often seems to fall on deaf ears, people have to continue to call out publications on the messages they are sending to their readers. Unfortunately, in 2015 we’re tasked with the job of opening editors’ eyes to the fact that we see what they’re selling — and we refuse to buy it anymore.

–Rivea Ruff

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