The other day I was watching some re-runs of, “So You Think You Can Dance”. There was a dancer, Kayla Radomski, who is better known on the show as ‘White Lightening’. Every time that I see her on the show and hear the host call her ‘White Lightening’ something inside me gets inspired. Strange I know – but it’s because behind all of my fake tans and strange orange smears on my body…I’m ‘White Lightening’ too. I find it so thrilling to finally hear such mainstream media deliver a positive emphasis on the beauty of a fair complexion. Obviously I am slightly bias – but being fair or ‘pale’ (as it is more popularly known) should be known as beautiful; not ill looking.

Generally, the public seems to believe that nice bronzed complexions and tanned bodies are the most attractive and appealing. What about the beauty of porcelain, the magic of ivory, and the glamour of white silk skin?

Dating back to the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s, pale skin was extremely popular and typically symbolized a higher class and richer social status.

In 1923 Coco Channel went on a cruise from Paris to Cannes, since she came back from this trip bronzeed – a craze for tanned skin began. It’s become an ongoing trend ever since.

In the glamorous runway shows – the paler the model the better (generally speaking). However, on the mainstream magazine covers, television shows, movies, and music videos – tanned is the way to go.

So which way is it? Pale or Tanned skin?

Let me set the record straight before I go on too long, I am not for or against tanned skin, I see the beauty in both.

It seems that these days everything that is considered to be beautiful in our mainstream is beginning to be unhealthy for us. Tanning is just one on the long list. Sure, it can has some great benefits for our bodies, such as vitamin D, but overall it really cannot be that great…we’re burning our skin!

There are thousands of articles for tanning and against tanning; either way does it really matter? Why can’t we just be beautiful either way?

However, recently there has been quite a strong emphasis on porcelain skin with all the emergence of Vampire movies and shows. Pale skin is coming back…or is it? Why is it that pale skin is only really hot or sexy when it is on a dead vampire? I will be the first to say that the whole mystery and charisma of a vampire is undeniably sexy but I am looking for the day when porcelain skin on an average person is considered beautiful and attractive. I am looking for the day where self tanners that make you look like an Umpa Lumpa from “Charlie and the Chocolate factory” are long gone.  I am looking for the day when people accept the skin they are in, as being fabulous, or maybe just the day that I can become comfortable in my own porcelain, creamy ivory or white silk skin.

Tags: confidence, empowerment, pale skin, Skin Care, so you think you can dance, white skin