Celebrity

'I am disappointed that @graziauk invited me to be on their cover and then edited out and smoothed my hair to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like,' the Oscar winner slams the magz.

• Nov 10, 2017

AceShowbiz - Lupita Nyong'o has been very vocal in embracing every bit of herself, so she's not here for Grazia U.K. after the magazine digitally altered her natural hairstyle on the cover of its November issue "to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like." The Oscar-winning actress calls out the magazine on social media, saying that she's "disappointed."

The "12 Years a Slave" star has taken to her Instagram account to share a side-by-side comparison of the aforementioned cover and the original, unedited photos from the photo shoot. The original photos show that the 34-year-old beauty actually styled her hair in a loose afro ponytail for the photo shoot, while the cover sees her sporting a shaved head.

"As I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too," she captions the photos.

"Being featured on the cover of a magazine fulfills me as it is an opportunity to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are," the Kenyan-Mexican actress adds. "I am disappointed that @graziauk invited me to be on their cover and then edited out and smoothed my hair to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like."

She goes on writing, "Had I been consulted, I would have explained that I cannot support or condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women's complexion, hair style and texture. #dtmh."

As I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too. Being featured on the cover of a magazine fulfills me as it is an opportunity to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are. I am disappointed that @graziauk invited me to be on their cover and then edited out and smoothed my hair to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like. Had I been consulted, I would have explained that I cannot support or condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women's complexion, hair style and texture. #dtmh

  Editors' Pick

• Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet 'Still Together,' but Not Expecting Their 1st Child
• Dua Lipa Makes Jaws Drop in Daring Low-Cut Dress at Time100 Gala
• Tom Holland and Zendaya Talking About Marriage as They Remain Strong
• King Charles Funeral Plans Reviewed Regularly as He's 'Very Unwell' Amid Cancer Battle
• Jeezy Shuts Down 'Deeply Disturbing' Abuse Allegations Brought by Ex Jeannie Mai

A post shared by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo) on Nov 9, 2017 at 6:11pm PST

Grazia U.K. has yet to respond to Nyong'o's comment.

Back in 2016, Nyong'o told Vogue, "There are certain cards that have been dealt me that I take on. I want to create opportunities for other people of color because I'm fortunate enough to have a platform to do that...," before adding, "Being able to use my platform to expand and diversify the African voice, I feel very passionate about that. It feels intentional, meaningful."

Grazia U.K. is not the only magazine which has been accused of photoshopping Nyong'o's appearance. In 2014, Vanity Fair was criticized online after allegedly making the star's skin look noticeably lighter in its February issue.