Beverly Naya Docu 'Skin' Review

Skin explores the damaging perception of beauty in the wake of light and dark skin. Actress Beverly Naya takes center stage in this documentary and schools us on the prospects of skin confidence, why some of us don't have it, why it's so hard to grasp, why it's so important and how the industry has told us what type of skin we should be confident in. A documentary that may or may not have made us cry, just a little bit.

"It is not an anti-bleaching campaign, instead the documentary seeks to inspire self-acceptance and self-love. It is about empowerment, not judgment"-Beverly Naya

The documentary centers on personal experiences of Nigerian women, growing up on a wheel, what's in and what's not. For this film, it's about how being dark is seen as a stigma, abroad, and even in our homelands. Beverly holds numerous interviews with women of varied skin pigmentations, they, through the platform tell us their story and how viewing skin color as a reason to be proud of saved them from people they could have been.

Taking it deeper, the documentary features conversations with children. In a particularly heartbreaking scene, a little girl says "I want to be fair, not too far, but I don't like being dark" When inquired, she dreamily went on about how she thinks that being lighter is better, with no particular reason why. Beverly expresses this part of the film to show us, it's not a "woman" thing, the fact that light I better is still capturing the minds of children whether they want to believe it or not.

The documentary was objective as it was heart-wrenching. Beverly is seen speaking with Dermatologists, bleaching cream sellers, and popular personalities.

Women who exposed their vulnerabilities and let us, strangers, know them.

It also featured a visit to the dermatologist, where we were hit with the harsh reality of skin bleaching and how it has become one of the leading causes of skin diseases in Nigeria. As well as an answer to, "why do you think people bleach so much?" -We're not going to tell you that answer, you're going to have to watch and find out *wink*

The topics of colorist intentions become a thread throughout the film. Beverly also visits a Brothel, a bleaching cream store, some of these scenes came with tears, others pure annoyance. The lady in the store? you need to have watched that bit to feel what we felt.

One of our favorite parts was the somewhat comical interview with Bob Risky. A scene that was meant to be a little sad, but made us all laugh anyway. Beverly also takes us back to her home town in Delta state. Where, we find the topic of colorism sort of, fizzled out, and came back again a few scenes to the end. The depth could have been explored more, a deeper understanding. So much more needs to be discussed, so many other perceptions and lenses to view from.

Did the entire documentary do an awesome job of talking about the lack of skin confidence in Nigeria? We think, not really. It was a beautiful representation of the world today and how it affects people. But it seemed to not represent the vast majority of Nigerians; the middle and low-income earners were left out. Interviews with important figures were great, but how does the regular, everyday girl relate and feel empowered by? She needs a figure who represents her. Someone who isn't a fashion mogul, actress, or entrepreneur.

We think it could have been a little more relatable. Take away the backdrop and the lights and the makeup. It IS a documentary about skin. When you put too many things on it, it's not as raw and naked as it should be.

Overall? we give it a solid 6.5. Is it the best film about Colorism ever made. No. So why should you watch it? Because it's about damn time someone talked about this topic. Make sure to check it out on Netflix and Amazon Prime.