That Time I Wished I Were Dark Skinned

Dark skin is high fashion, beautiful and timeless…

It's Ericajean

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Image digitally colored using the ColorTherapy App

It was 2001. Exactly three years after I tried to get a modeling contract through Wright Modeling Agency(long story). I never got the contract and had since forgotten about them, but when they showed up in my 12th grade year to promote their company, I was excited because I was still the same, just a shorter haircut. Still slim. Surely, they will remember me and choose me(?)

During that time, I was friends with Donna. She was deep into the church had two sisters who looked just like her: they had this rich, ebony skin, high cheekbones — they were all the ideal weight, but because of their religious affiliation and the fact they wore “hand me down” clothing — mostly dresses, the boys would snicker and call them names behind their backs.

I was not sure why because these girls were all highly intelligent, very beautiful in my eyes and were amazing friends to me. Their older sister had already graduated so it was just the middle sister and Donna left.

As a freshman, I tried to get into Wright Modeling. I had thin braids in my hair at the time and wore this short skirt to show off my Whitaker legs(that’s what folks called the women’s legs in my family); the agency turned me down…I thought. Later on, I received a call that…

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It's Ericajean

Essayist and poet | Author of Rumors of Ouroboros . Learn more about Erica at https://linktr.ee/itsericajean/