Wilma Doesnt recalls the harshest comments she received about her skin color growing up
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Wilma Doesnt on the perception of beauty: “Hindi ako 'yung standard ng beauty nung panahon na 'yun.”
Model, actress, and host Wilma Doesnt is a beacon of empowerment, encouraging everyone to embrace the color of their skin.
The morena beauty is a strong advocate of skin positivity, and in her interview with Kara David for i-Listen, she looked back on her journey growing up and how she eventually learned to accept her own beauty.
In her adolescent years during the '80s and '90s, the The Sweet Life co-host of Lucy Torres shared that she was bullied simply because of her dark skin.
“Dadaan ka, may mga grupo ng boys na tatawagin ka, 'Negra, negra!'” Wilma shared.
“Naiiyak ako. Tapos pag Valentine's Day, wala talagang nagbibigay sa akin—kahit plastic na rose. Walang nanliligaw sa akin.”
Kara then asked Doesnt, “Gumamit ka ba ng whitening products noon, or nagfa-foundation ka ba na mas maputi?”
Wilma explained to the award-winning documentarist that her grandfather played a big role in helping her embrace her uniqueness.
“Bata pa lang ako, tanggap ko na. Kasi I remember, isang araw iyak ako nang iyak kasi tinutukso ako ng mga kalalakihan na 'negra.' Then sabi ng lolo ko, 'Halika, bakit ka umiiyak?'”
Wilma told her grandfather, “Tinutukso nila ako, negra.”
He then said, “Halika, may ipapakita ako sa'yo. Oh, tumingin ka diyan. Ano ang kulay mo?”
She answered that she had dark skin.
To which her grandfather responded, “Oh, bakit ka umiiyak? Ayun ang katotohanan. Tanggapin mo na maitim ka.”
“Never mo bang inisip na maganda ka?” Kara asked the Pinay supermodel.
“Hindi ko naisip—up until na-discover ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, 'Meron pala akong natatanging ganda!' Bata, adolescence, high school—wala nga akong naging boyfriend. Kaya humabol naman ako, charot!” she said with a laugh.
“Hindi ako 'yung standard ng beauty nung panahon na 'yun. Kapag maitim ka, outcast ka.”
As an advocate for skin positivity, Wilma Doesnt is determined to spread awareness among younger Pinoys that our skin color is beautiful and something we should never be ashamed of.
“Gusto kong patunayan sa lahat ng kabataan na tayo ay mga Filipino. We live in a tropical country—mainit, everyday is summer. You enjoy the sun. Love yourself. Ang ganda-ganda ng kulay natin.”
Catch Wilma Doesnt's full interview on i-Listen in the video below.
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