Franchesca Ramsey praises Icelandic company for use of dark skinned model
Franchesca Ramsey, also known as Chescaleigh, is an American comedian, activist, television and YouTube personality, and actress. Photo/Getty Images
Blogger and actress Franchesca Ramsey was out and about in NYC when she spotted a subway poster advertising Icelandic Glacial water's Pure Authenticity campaign featuring Senegalese model Khoudia Diop.
Ramsey was thrilled to see a dark-skinned woman of color representing an Icelandic brand, and gave kudos to Icelandic Glacial for this particular casting.
Khudoia Diop was teased as a child for her stunning dark skin tone but after moving to Paris at age 15 she became a model, nicknaming herself the Melanin Goddess to express pride in her appearance.
Ramsey wrote on Instagram:
"Got off the train at a random stop because I saw this ad through the window and needed to take a photo?! MAM! To see a DARK SKINNED BLACK WOMAN in a major ad campaign?! and a brand from ICELAND of all places?! This is truly monumental.
Representation matters y'all. And I know I don't have to tell you that. I'm always happy when I see POC in advertisements, but damnit I can barely name 3 brands that have dark skinned spokeswomen. Models? Sure, they're getting more visibility these days, but a spokeswoman gig is MAJOR MAJOR. Peep the quote on the ad. They're giving this woman a VOICE. And she deserves it! She ain't just a pretty face! Too often dark skinned women are either portrayed as angry & unlikeable or straight up fetishized. It's so important to see diverse representations of blackness in media, this is what gives kids confidence and helps expand the global consciousness around what's it means to be confident, successful & beautiful."
<div> <div></div> </div><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BUNkD1YBVjh/" target="_blank">YO. when I tell you I got off the train at a random stop because I saw this ad through the window and needed to take a photo?! MAM! To see a DARK 👏🏿 SKINNED 👏🏿 BLACK 👏🏿WOMAN 👏🏿 in a major ad campaign?! and a brand from ICELAND of all places?! This is truly monumental. - - Representation matters y'all. And I know I don't have to tell you that. I'm always happy when I see POC in advertisements, but damnit I can barely name 3 brands that have dark skinned spokeswomen. Models? Sure, they're getting more visibility these days, but a spokeswoman gig is MAJOR MAJOR. Peep the quote on the ad. They're giving this woman a VOICE. And she deserves it! She ain't just a pretty face! Too often dark skinned women are either portrayed as angry & unlikeable or straight up fetishized. It's so important to see diverse representations of blackness in media, this is what gives kids confidence and helps expand the global consciousness around what's it means to be confident, successful & beautiful. - - Congrats @melaniin.goddess for this fantastic campaign and kudos @icelandicglacial for casting her in it! I'm taking my ass to the store and buying a bottle in your honor. and no this shit ain't sponsored but hit me up cause your girl is ready #BlackGirlMagic #BlackExcellence</a></p><p>A post shared by Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) on May 17, 2017 at 4:29pm PDT</p>
