Earlier this month, Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o released her first picture book Sulwe, an inspiring story that brilliantly explores the effects of colorism on self-esteem. And since then, Nyong’o has made us fall in love all over again with her gorgeous melanin.
The 36-year-old was spotted out and about on press runs last week, and despite the cold weather and drying temperatures, her brown skin managed to shine bright like pearls, causing major glow envy.
It may be hard to believe that as a child, the new author was teased for having such stunning skin. But finding beauty in her complexion is what inspired her to write the moving children’s book.
“Much like Sulwe, I got teased and taunted about by night-shaded skin, Nyong’o said in a press release. “My goal is to provide young children with a path towards seeing their own beauty, regardless of what society tells them.”
In an Instagram post, Lupita shared that the idea for the book came after Essence’s 2014 Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon.
“Just days before the 2014 #Oscars, I gave a speech at @Essence‘s Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. For a surreal, nerve-wracking five minutes, I spoke to a room full of Black women about my own struggle to find beauty in my dark skin, my journey to self-love, and how I hoped my presence on screens and in magazines would be a source of validation for young people growing up with similar struggles. This speech struck a chord with many people and went viral on the internet. In the aftermath of this open-hearted public moment for me, I realized this message needed to be heard by the most vulnerable: our children. This is when the idea of a children’s book was born. Today #Sulwe is officially a reality,” Nyong’o captioned the post.
The book “holds up a mirror for dark-skinned children especially, to see themselves reflected immediately, and it is a window for all the others to cherish peering into,” said Nyong’o. And we definitely can’t stop staring at the ravishing beauty.
