by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Vanity Fair recently released its annual Hollywood Issue which features up-and-comers in the film industry. The cover is beautiful and rightfully includes Lupita Nyong’o, Viola Davis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. But it’s the “additional intimate portraits“, shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz that are causing a stir.
All feature the cover actresses a bit more stripped down. But Nyong’o and Davis appear to be the only actresses, aside from Charlotte Rampling, to be partially nude, and the two with the least amount of makeup — by far.
For reference, here are the portraits of the other featured actresses.
Here are Nyong’o and Davis.
Fans are speaking out on what some feel is a troubling trend of black actresses forced to de-glam themselves, a topic black cinema site Shadow and Act spoke on back in 2011 (before Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis’ career-changing roles in Empire and How to Get Away With Murder, respectively.)
“The subject came up when I had a conversation with a regular S & A reader involved in the theater as a director about how often black actors and actresses I’ve met in person, are much better looking than they appear on screen.
I told the reader one person who immediately came to mind was Taraji P. Henson. Meeting her, I was stuck by how just adorably cute she is in person. However that vision of her has yet to appear on the screen, where either she’s made to look awful (think Hustle and Flow or her matronly appearance in Benjamin Button), or even in films where she’s “normal,” such as The Karate Kid, Not Easily Broken, or Date Night, where she’s made to look haggard and not at all well photographed.
But the worst case I mentioned must be Viola Davis. I’ve met Ms. Davis, and the person I met was incredibly attractive, and with a trim, fantastic body (speaking as a guy I tend to notice things like that…). But that’s not the Viola Davis you regularly encounter in movies. She almost always looks awful, and I suspected at the time perhaps sometimes padded to make her look bigger. And now as she revealed in The Help she was. I mean was that really necessarily for her to gain all that weight and have the padding as well? You mean there are no thin black maids?”
After the Vanity Fair photos were posted to their Facebook page, fans of black feminist site ForHarriet.com debated them.
This is not the first time Liebovitz has been criticized for her portrayal of a high profile black person. She was blasted in April 2008 for shooting Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen in a photo that channelled King Kong.
However, other fans felt the the issue is how we define what is unattractive and unkempt in the black community, and our collective discomfort with seeing ourselves in our most natural state — tight coils, deep brown skin and all.
Ladies, what are your thoughts on all of this?
71 Responses
So, basically, the naked, stark pictures of the dark women has black women feeling some kind of way. This is more telling of black people’s rejection of blackness than anything else. If black ppl were truly intune with their (our) blackness, they’d recognize our skin doesn’t need make up and would applaud these photos. Instead, they want to call white ppl out for making them feel “uncomfortable”. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, black women are their own worse enemy.
I agree with both sides. There is definitely a difference in how Viola and Lupita are photographed and styled compared to the white women – all of the younger white women have minimal makeup and good lighting while Lupita and Viola are au naturel and are in poor light. But I also do think part of this is discomfort with the way that black women look in our natural state. That’s a tender, raw part of us – because we’ve always been told that we look ugly without our hair done a certain way and makeup to sculpt our features.
In and of themselves, the pictures are artistically stunning, and Lupita’s and Viola’s beauty is unquestionable. But that’s not the issue. The issue is that when placed in a setting alongside white women, Lupita and Viola are partially nude, which sexualizes them in comparison to the other women who were fully clothed. They are presented as exotic and raw while the others are presented as “refined” and polished. It has very little to do with their beauty, and more to do with a history of displaying black bodies differently and more indigenously than white bodies.
Sexulized? Ridiculous! I guess you didn’t notice the bare shoulders on the white women, did you? Honestly, I think white ppl have a greater appreciation for black beauty than blacks.
Love these photos! Lupita is giving classic profile that inspired Picasso. I don’t wear anything except lipstick and I told a white man at work my age today (55) and all he could say was “Wow! it must be genetics” and he repeated it at least twice, almost to himself like he couldn’t understand it. I get this reaction a lot from non-black folks.
I understand the concern that now that we finally get to go mainstream we are portrayed in a certain way. But you really have to understand non-black folks unspoken fascination/admiration/envy of our skin, hair and style. Sun exposure can really do a number on your skin without protection (natural or otherwise). So I feel they need to portray themselves with makeup at all times because they know they don’t hold up well. Look at how they look in these fotos with makeup! Imagine if they didn’t have on anything. That being said I really do believe that every woman is beautiful with or without the artifice.
I sincerely believe that how the photographer feels about their subject is reflected in the photograph they take (of the subject).
I honestly think as a nation we need our own. We wouldnt be having this conversation if these photographs were taken by a black photographer for a black mag.
The issue isn’t that they’re without makeup, the issue is that NONE of the other actresses are featured in the same way. If all of them were without makeup as Viola and Lupita are, I’d be able to appreciate it more. That’s that underhanded, shady, giving yet taking always bullish. Scheupsssssss
THe real question is why do we associate bare without glam as dishevled and ugly. That is your perception. I think beauty deeper than makeup. No one looks the same without it. That doesnt make you ugly. It makes you confident in you own skin to do it and to be willing to do it with no problem. BEAUTY IS THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. They obviously think they are…..THEY KNOW they are beautiful. Everyday women wont be seen without makeup and hair. That is a personal but real problem.
Bravo! Someone who gets it!
The moment I saw these pictures, I thought these are some beautiful women. The fact that Lupita and Viola are portrayed without makeup and under the illusion of nudity connotes an ethereal feeling, like I have been granted a glimpse of a goddess in her powerful realm. The other women, no offense to them, are kind of bland, and mundane in comparison, like a human standing next to the Venus. If someone was trying to be derogatory, they failed completely. Black women, no better yet, dark skinned women of any nationality have beauty and I love seeing it in it’s natural form.
As a Black woman that doesn’t wear makeup – I love the photos of Viola and Lupita. They are real. We are NOT all glammed up 24/7 with weaves, etc. My mom never wore anything other than mascara and lipstick and I often wondered as a child why she didn’t wear makeup like everyone else. She didn’t need it, like many women don’t, but most choose to use it. I can’t tell you what shade or number of foundation would match my skin, I know nothing about contouring. I do know that seeing some celebrities without makeup saddens me because, they look like a totally different person and it’s that other person that they feel society will accept. Black women are still behind the eight ball because we can’t be viewed as beautiful made up, light, dark, slim, thick, etc. Lupita and Viola are what I see in the mirror every day – real, raw, unapologetic – just a different skin tone. Who’s to say they themselves didn’t choose to be photoed this way??
I’m confused as to how the white ladies can even be in this “makeup free” portrait when they are clearly wearing makeup… Lupita and Viola are the only ones who are true to what the piece is supposed to be about and are actually makeup free and partially nude. I like their photos the best because they look real, like they’ve been snapped in thought or doing something in real life, not posing for a camera like all the others.
I don’t think the photos are “bad” or “unattractive” in themselves but I do question the contrast between Lupita and Viola’s photos and the others. This is after all a photographer who has made some questionable choices with at least one other Black subject in the past. Is this look one that they requested or is it a reflection of the photographer’s vision? Further, if they didn’t necessarily request this look but did consent to it, did they do so knowing the sharp contrast there would be between their pictures and the others? I understand the argument that they are grown and had to agree to sit for the shoot but the assumption that they had full knowledge of the entire context the photos would appear in may not be accurate. Has any statement been made by either of them to that effect?
I understood the point behind this article but I must say it had the complete opposite effect on me. All it did was prove to me how stunning Lupita and Viola are as opposed to the other ones. The shell doesn’t make the woman but the depth does. They feel real and strong to me when I look at them, the others though are covered by artificiality.
Both women are Beyoutifull with or without makeup!
Viola and Lupita look beautiful with or without makeup. I have no problems with the Vanity Fair photos. We need to embrace ourselves — no matter what.
1. The fact that the white women have make-up on and have their hard “did” while the black women don’t is suspect. And when you take into account the photographers history, even more so.
2. If it was Viola and Lupita who decided they were comfortable enough in themselves to go this route instead of make-up then more power to them!
3. I love love love the make-up less, fully natural pics of Viola and Lupita. I always see them on the red carpet and in movies/shows done up – make-up, hair did, looking photo-shoot ready, it’s nice to see the clean, untouched, 4c-haired side…and they are beautiful! Every once in a while, it’s nice to see my hair and my color represented.
Why O why do we feel the need to intergrade with them
For Harriet shouldn’t have turned this around on us. No, this is a cut and dry issue. It’s discussing the comparison between the treatment of two groups of individuals by a photographer that already has a reputation and track record for portraying Black people negatively.
We know we’re feminine and we know we’re beautiful in our natural state. This has nothing to do with our perspective of what “disheveled” and
“feminine” mean. Our doubling back on ourselves instead of simply calling out things for what they are is part of what keeps holding us back from tackling problems at their root and nipping them in the bud, in the first place.
No offense intended as I’m not trying to be facetious, but For Harriet’s comment sounds like something someone with a psychological syndrome who’s in need of therapy would say – it shows that we’ve been so successfully gaslighted into lowering our own standards of acceptance that noting a divergence from equal treatment and/or desiring more than the bare minimum or unequal treatment we’re given, results in our actually spending time to wonder if the cause of such is because perhaps we’re malfunctioning and are in the wrong. Considering the historical backdrop making up our context, that’s a ridiculously deflective and irrelevant line of thought that’s not even worth entertaining.
i really love viola’s photos. reminds me of the older women in my family
The photos are beautiful. I love the natural hair and faces. Besides,it’s not just them without the makeup. Charlotte Rampling is too. So what about Gugu? She has makeup on in her shot. I think it was an artistic decision and not a racist our. The photographer , rightly , thinks the two dark black women have lovely skin, which they do.
Funny thing is, if the suite women had no makeup, and only the black women did, what would be the issue ? Would you complain that they’re saying black women aren’t naturally beautiful and white women are? Or would you hypocritically be accepting of that and keep it moving?
If you ask me, these black women got the better deal here , because they get to show off their natural beauty and revel in it. They’re sending a message that they’re already gorgeous as they are, and I applaud them.
I think both images show their strength and a sort of softness and that is part of what makes us beautiful
Excuse me if this seems simple minded, but if Nyongo and Davis felt the pictures portrayed them unfairly, could they not go through with the deal? Or do they sign photo releases without knowing the concept? I agree with some of the folks that are saying POC and non POC are photographed differently, but at the same time these women accepted the offer to be photographed, no?
They both look great even in all that bad lighting.
I don’t know how these agreements usually go, but while they probably could have stopped the photos if they felt them unfair by themselves, they might not have been aware of the difference in portrayal to the other actresses.
These women are all beautiful. I have two questions going through my head. First did they want to be photographed as they were? Maybe they decided on it. Next why is everyone else in makeup and everything? The fact that they were the only two completely natural makes me think that it was their choice and in that case we must respect that.
Their photos are beautiful. However, in comparison to the other actresses, it seems suspect. If they all did the stripped down looked, I would understand. But It looks like two different photo shoots.
So I don’t think the issue is with beauty. We know that both Lupita and Viola are stunning- glammed up or sans make up and naked. They are gorgeous, intelligent, amazing women. I think the issue up for debate lies at the contrast between their photos and the photos of their colleagues. The other women were allowed to a) be fully clothed and b) glammed with makeup and different lighting. We don’t know if that was the choice of the ladies or the photographer. However, it calls to question why there had to be a difference between the ladies, especially when the ones without the “extras” are Black women. What was the reasoning behind it all, especially when the focus of the article and cover was to highlight women in the acting world?
This is what I’m thinking too.
As a white woman, this makes me sad for both black and white women… I think the pictures of Lupita & Viola are by far the most beautiful, as well as the most humanizing. Someone said that “we celebrate white women’s beauty when it’s … natural” – do we? I never ever see pictures where a white woman’s skin is un-made up and un-retouched like in Lupita’s in that picture. I have such a hard time imagining portraits of any white female celebrities similar to either her’s or Viola’s. Look how very softened the other actresses’ skin is, even in the portrait of Charlotte Rampling that’s supposed to be a bit “raw” too and expose (gasp!) some aging skin – and how it’s taken at such a distance. And look at how terribly meek and bland Jennifer Lawrence, even Helen Mirren look; women who certainly have personality.
So it’s obvious to me that people in our culture just cannot, will not stand for the sight of white women the way we really look. They (and we) find our red patches and grey pores as disgusting as our body hair. I know what this does to white girls – it destroys them.
Question is why black women seem to somehow be perceived and portrayed a bit differently, at least by mainstream (white dominated) culture, and what that does to black girls and women?
I’m studying psychology and we read some studies that found that in the US, black adolescent girls have better self esteem and are more confident than white girls the same age. I think there might be confounding issues, but there seems to be something to it. I have wondered a lot if one factor then might be this difference in cultural perception. But I’m definitely not naive enough to think it’s only positive for black women, if at all, by any stretch. I think the commenter who was saying they were “othering” the black actresses here is definitely on to something…
I’m so confused by the whole phenomenon actually. It’s as if black women get simultaneously more humanized and more dehumanized than white women? Either by different forces or by the same force…?
Agree 100% with the ForHarriette quote “What we deem as ‘disheveled’ and ‘feminine’ deserves some interrogation… ”
Also the S.A. quote seems to only be measuring these women on their appearance.
Now if they would have put all white women and no black women then people would be raising hell. But they choose 2 beautiful natural women and thats okay with me. On the front cover they had on makeup and viola had on a wig. So exactly what is the problem..
girl…this is how commenters on here are…i anticipated the comments lol..
people are uncomfartable and confused and violated because of what images like this mean to the white gaze and to the white photographer-just the whole context and history but at the same time they want to find these women beautiful as they are and afford them their agency, imagine a world where a black woman could actually WANT to look like “this” by themselves (whatver the crispy f-k “this” means.lol). AND that, the wanting, changes the game entirely.like maybe lupita and viola wanted to be photographed like this or maybe they were advised this is what they would be photographed like and they took it and owned it and said i know what you mean Annie but actually this is what I mean. I’ve worked as a model and sometimes thats what you do. sometimes they put crazy bright orange lipstick on you (which is beautiful but totally not you, or maybe even a little offensive) and all you want is a “soft” nude lip, sometimes they give you black leather overalls when all you want is a draped, flowing gown but you take that and you own it and it shows.There are definitely limits and definitely things that are completely offensive but sometimes its just about how you choose to take things, and also just question-why do we want to look “soft” and “feminine”, what does that even mean you know? why do we need to see ourselves as femine or “soft” to see ourselves as fully human, to not see ourselves as “slaves” or “rough”. I think subsconciously many of us still think we have to be white to be presentable, respectable and dignified.how do we define ourselves what do we do with the things imposed on us?
Thankyou!
I don’t share the opinion that they look dishevelled or unkempt!
Lupita and Viola’s portraits = art! Simply beautiful!
black women are prefect in their skin. ~yb
lets keep it real, black women are beautiful, they don’t need make up. most white people tan, because they want to be darker…so what does that tell you…but to my sisters, we have to own more magazines that will promote who we are. dark skin women are some of the finest on this earth. its been far to long we have allow other people to tell us who we are. ‘WE ARE NOT WHO THEY SAY WE ARE. WE ARE WHO WE KNOW WE ARE. wish they could have shown more black skin…..LET ME SAY, sometimes pale is not a good look
The most make up I’ve ever worn are lipstick and eyeliner on special occasions. The white girls at school told me i was lucky with my skin color because it meant i didn’t need to wear make up whilst they were caked up. Men liked the fact that I was not into make up and i always wanted others to accept me in my natural self.
This looks more like they feel that these women look bad without make up and clothing than anything else…
viola’s pained expression and the bad lighting and angle in both their pics would say otherwise. There’s a big contrast between the pics but whatever…
I would ask everyone to enlarge both pictures by themselves.
These are impressive photographs of both ladies. You literally see
The light in her eyes face tip of her nose. Absolutely beautiful! The power in her
The position of her hands just shows strength. Her lips! If that’s no make on them
Well let’s just say, Make up World you need to event some ASAP.
And Lupita….. If one side of the face looks this good …. Yea you killing them with a full face view. Lovely skin for days. She smelling with her cheeks. Power View.
I assolutely love these pictures. If they decided to pose this way great. If the photographer did thumps up for having the eye to capture the naked raw beauty of
Two beautiful black women.
This site use to be wonderful to visit. Not anymore.
I am moreso confused by the way that the two dark-skinned actresses are portrayed in a totally different fashion than the others. I think if we get explanation on that, we can discuss if it is right or wrong. Without it, there is little context; all I see are two beautiful black women.
I do not like those pictures of Lupita and Viola and Davis at all. They brought tears to my eyes because they remind me of slave-trade. Why would she make the White people look glam and the black people look like slaves? It’s almost as if she is trying to send a a clear message. To put us in our place.. which according to her is in the slave-trade era. I know that there are still some white people who have no regrets about the slave trade era and actually miss it.
Now keep in mind that because black people are not featured as often as white people in the media( Kindly view the first Vanity Fair picture for proof ).. When we are featured, that is what the other races see. Do you really want other races to generalize and truly believe that black people are disheveled and unkempt?
I am not here for this AT ALL.
How are they being portrayed as slaves? Is that what no makeup means to you?
Ugonna Wosu, NIRA, Reece Winter.
Thank you for pointing out my mistake to me. I think that they look Awesome but that wouldn’t be noticeable from the tone of my previous comment. I was very upset that they were set apart and stripped down, which reminded me of the slave-trade era when blacks were set apart, literally stripped down, treated inhumanely and viewed as inferior to white people. I couldn’t fathom why the only two black women in the shoot were set apart and stripped down. That doesn’t mean that they look bad. I’m just saying, it makes me feel like there’s a separation/segregation kind of situation going on in this photoshoot. However, if they(Lupita and Viola) chose the looks by themselves, I say “Good for them. Rock on Girls!”. I should have written my previous comment in a manner that simply expressed how I felt about the issue without adding the angry tone and the words: “disheveled”, “unkempt” and “slaves”. They are two talented and lovely ladies, working hard to make a name for themselves in the Acting Industry and I will always be proud of them.
Maybe the other actors needed the make up and Viola and Lupita did not.
Oop
i think they look great but i get both sides of the argument. I don’t get why she singled them out though. Why not just do the same thing with everyone? It makes it worse that they are three black women and she only did it to the two darker skin women. All these actresses have been in roles where they look tired or haggard or are without makeup so once again, why not photograph them all the same? Anyway, Lupita and Viola are gorgeous!!
maybe she was showing off their skin… I may be alone but I think they look gorgeous without makeup.. Perhaps makeup doesn’t ALWAYS improve someone’s natural beauty? To be fair I admire beautiful skin a lot more then makeup, even though when skillfully applied it is breathtaking. Naturally I’m always attracted to the less is more, keep in mind some people have this view.
And did anyone stop to think that maybe Lupita and Viola wanted de-glammed shots? Did people stop to think that because they co-signed the shots? Like, this constant outrage is just too damn exhausting.
There are bigger fish to fry in the world and yet idiots are crying over this. Pull up your big girl panties and move tf on.
There are bugger fish to fry in the world and yet idiots are crying over this. Pull up your big girl panties and move tf on
people can focus on more than one thing at a time!! *gasp* the power of the human brain, let us all bask in it’s power.
enough with this tired argument.
And what’s the deal with Diane Keaton? She’s dressed like Sherlock Holmes or something.
You almost made me lose my mind lmao
lol
lmao she always dresses like that
I look pretty much like the photos of Lupita and Viola on most days with the exception that it would be pretty difficult to capture me on film without a smile. I guess minimalists like myself who are happy with freshly washed shrunken hair and a clean face are clearly not the norm. Try and tell me I am not beautiful and I will show you a liar 🙂
lol, i love this comment
No no no no NO. This is soo incredibly offensive. I’m not uncomfortable by seeing fellow sisters in their natural state. I’m natural proud, and wear little makeup on a regular basis. However, I’m disgusted by how blatant their efforts are- how stupid they think we are. They make our stars their tokens. Take away makeup, good lighting, and hair conditioner, then put them next to the typical “hollywood” broads. I want to see Jennifer Lawrence without the blush and winged eyeliner, Helen Miren without her red lip. They aren’t special. We really need to stop begging for white acceptance and hand outs. I wish Lupita and Viola refused to do this spread. This is unjust and wholly unflattering.
The other chicks need all the help they can get so I say go ‘head Viola and Lupita!
Everybody raised salient points but Leobrowowhatchatcallit should stick to a pattern. If you’re doing natural look, stick to it with EVERYONE. If you’re doing ‘makeup natural’ then stick to it. We can be beautiful either way. But she’s awful though
personally I think they look STUNNING!!!! even without the additional lighting the richness of their hue shines through. I think it makes a bolder statement that the darkest women were still able to be stunning without additional help. something about the melanin in our skin has us looking glam on what others perceive to be our worst days. like one commenter said, we need to take a look at what we as black women deem “disheveled” and “unkempt” and shine the light on us. we don’t need to be “beat fa da gawds” to be considered beautiful. Viola herself has already been filmed on multiple occasions and will continue to do so with HTGAWM. she is comfortable, Lupita is comfortable, the rest of the insecure black community need to learn how to be comfortable as well
They are beautiful women but come on. They look rough! Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t look like she was stripped of makeup and hair styling products and neither does Helen Mirren. I feel this was deliberately done to make them look bad.
Oh, lord. This around and about topic again?
I am so glad I do not use social media. The constant outrage is exhausting.
There is definitely a stark contrast between the way that Viola and Lupita are photographed vs. the other women, who also happen to be either white or fairer skinned. That said, I don’t think it’s fair to get upset before getting input from Davis and Nyong’o, on the off chance that they were photographed the way they wanted to be.
I remember when Melissa McCarthy shot an Elle cover wearing a enormous coat, and a lot of people in the FA community took offense because they felt like Melissa’s body was purposely being hidden (as if we don’t already know that she’s fat). Come to find out that Melissa chose that coat for the shoot. So, yeah, there could be a conspiracy afoot, or it could just be a coincidence that Viola and Lupita both wanted to be photographed sans make-up and trick lighting.
Join the discussionto the grayton carter and his magazine another editor from more magazine abby perlman resently got envolved in coraption business with crazy cbs anchor otis livingston to stel money from vinity fair employees bank accaunts. never trust abby perlman and otis livingston they bouth belongs in prison.