When music fans aren’t trying to figure out if Kelly Rowland and her sister from another mister, Beyoncé, are working on a secret collaboration, some folks are speculating about the Atlanta native’s skin.
Recently, Rowland took to social media to clear up rumors that she’s ditching her gorgeous brown skin in favor of a lighter hue.
“I just landed in LA and I saw that a lot of people are like, ‘Oh my God she bleaches her skin,’” Rowland told fans on Instagram.
“Now, I never answer questions like this because I think it’s so stupid or even say anything about comments like this, but I am not the one to bleach my skin,” the singer continued. “Nor do I want to bleach my skin. Nor do I have to bleach my skin. I don’t even think that that—it’s not for me.”
While Rowland isn’t lightening her skin, the conversation around bleaching has been heating up lately, thanks to dancehall artist Spice. Earlier this week, the Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta cast member hinted that she had undergone treatments to alter her skin tone.
Though Spice didn’t actually bleach away her deep brown hue — but rather used the striking images of herself with a lighter tone as a moment to discuss colorism — the striking image was a reminder that skin lightening is all too common in many parts of the world.
While skin bleaching is big business around the globe, Rowland assured fans she’s proud of her “chocolate” hue.
“I am still chocolate. Forever chocolate. Proud to be chocolate,” she said. “Shout out to all my chocolate girls.”
