Desperate things we do for fame

There is something unreal about the likes of Vera Sidika. Dating an oil tycoon, living a lavish lifestyle and bleaching your skin for millions in the UK, what in God‘s name for? As expected, her recent TV interview brought on a long rant on Twitter but what is more jarring is the mixed message she is giving to impressionable young girls:

That the body is mightier than the brain.

In recent times, there have been news reports of outlandish things women do to get themselves an enviable backside. From the expected to the ridiculous. All this time, you also get the impression you have been posing wrong if all the body arching in photographs is to be believed.

If we are not careful, we will end up raising girls who are endlessly materialistic, vain and gullible enough to compromise their own safety for the sake of whatever the current version of beauty is. Even Vera had to come from somewhere. We know what is expected. That children model what they see from the people raising them. But it is also true, that we have no control over the type of adult they eventually become.

That you are not acceptable as you are and so you change how you look, play into the psyche that being lighter is better than being dark.

So pile on the rubbish that will give you a new look and do not consider the danger that comes with it. Really: Even after all the accolades Lupita Nyong'o brought on by her definition of beauty? It is obvious that skin-lightening industry is a multi-million dollar one which never runs out of clients from Africa, Asia buying into their philosophy that lighter is better. That is unfortunate.

That you snag a rich man and hence you have made it.

Enter the idea of an oil tycoon who spoils her. Why does it have to be that way? What happened to getting yours? I would hate to say she is a gold-digger but...

I just do not want to live in a society of vapid, pouty socialites. And there are many of them these days. It is crazy. With strange names. Obviously there is a niche market that is feeding this madness. The pride she had when declaring she had bleached her skin is monumental. It did not end well for Michael Jackson either.

On top of future repercussions, there is the ridiculous price tag if it is to be believed. Sh50 million is no joke. There are other sensible ways of spending such money.

So we have this mad dash of naive girls who change themselves at whatever personal cost and the unscrupulous black market merchants ready for pickings. Everybody interprets success differently and not many people love hard work. I rather like the idea of hard working individuals and they are not celebrated often enough. Maybe their path to success is not glamorous and was long and tedious but these quick fixes we keep getting in media are misleading.

As a reference for adolescent girls already uncomfortable with their identity, this socialite-model, is a recipe for disaster.

— Alexis is a healthcare professional