Darkish-skinned ladies want love too — however what occurs once they cease believing it’s going to occur? On the most recent episode of YouTube, “Pop Your Ballon or Discover Love,” a younger, beautiful Black girl rejected herself from a possible match with a male contestant, not due to his phrases, however on account of her assumptions. In a second that’s each sincere and heartbreaking, she nearly let self-rejection block her from discovering her mate. Seize your tissues as a result of this episode hits somewhat laborious totally different.
Hosted by Arlette Amuli, the present relies on contestants who face a panel of singles, every holding a pink balloon. Through the elimination course of, if a panelist hears or sees one thing they dislike, they pop their balloon to sign rejection. In a viral clip, a lovely girl pops her balloon, however not for the same old motive like ‘he’s too brief,’ or “he’s too outdated” or “I don’t like what he’s sporting.
The girl popped her balloon as a result of she figured he’d reject her. However when the host requested if she was his sort, the good-looking Black man complimented her lovely options, together with his admiration for her darkish complexion. “She’s my sort,” he described. “Undoubtedly like her pores and skin tone. I like darkish pores and skin ladies. She’s lovely.” To her shock, the feminine panelist hadn’t anticipated to catch the contestant’s eye. “I didn’t assume I used to be his sort,” she admitted.
Amuli and everybody on set have been baffled by the feminine contestant’s response to the praise. Though different ladies within the panel pool may have captured his consideration, the contestant continued reinforcing his attraction, praising “her beautiful almond eyes” to her, easing her shock and uncertainty. “He’s enticing— I simply didn’t assume I used to be his sort,” she admitted. Noticing the panelist had popped her balloon, Amuli quickly acknowledged it wasn’t mistrust, however insecurity. “Why are you eliminating your self?,” Amuli requested, handing her a brand new balloon.
With confidence, each the male contestant and feminine panelist agreed it was a match.
The episode created waves of dialog about how societal nuances form magnificence expectations, notably for dark-skinned ladies. This subgroup typically faces stereotypes and biases in relationship and potential romantic connections. Male artists incessantly reference their choice for light-skinned or “unique” ladies. All through the 90s and 2000s, music, tv, and magazines celebrated fair-skinned ladies, whereas darkish pores and skin ladies have been brushed over or given backhanded compliments. Whereas her response was pure, it reveals how deeply ingrained the narrative that darkish complexions are excluded from standard magnificence and desirability.
Social media share their ideas: “That video of the darkskin girl within the inexperienced gown eliminating herself on pop the balloon makes me so unhappy,” an X commentor shared. “I’m so comfortable I spent the primary portion of my grownup life someplace that my black options have been celebrated. I couldn’t think about appearing like that at this age.”
One other X commenter posted, “She anticipated him to be into the light-skinned girl with the blonde wig. Given the pictures of black ladies which have saturated the tradition for *many years*, I perceive why. I’m glad he expressed his curiosity & she pushed previous her insecurities.” One other X member responded, “I don’t assume it was her insecurities however extra of what she’s skilled with males and the way they all the time select the lighter, smaller ladies over dark-skinned ladies, even when she’s the prettiest within the room.”
In the end, this episode stood out as a strong snapshot of the unstated struggles that dark-skinned ladies face of their relationship journeys whereas additionally serving as a lovely reminder that attraction defies stereotypes.