Molly-Mae Hague has faced backlash after filming a beauty tutorial for her followers.
The Love Island star, who is known for her makeup and hair skills, faced ridicule and accusations of “blackfishing” for choosing a foundation shade much deeper than her skin tone.
“Blackfishing” is relatively new phrase, though not a new occurrence, describing people who pretend to have a different ethnicity online, specifically non-Caucasian.
During the tutorial, Molly-Mae explained: “I’ve really been enjoying Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk.”
“But this is too dark for me so I’m going to be mixing it with my studio fix fluid from MAC which is a holy grail of mine I use it all the time and this is in the shade NC42 which is still very dark.”
The Love Island star continued: “I often get lots of comments on how my face is too dark.”
“I go very pale in the winter time and obviously now it’s getting colder, it’s getting wintery, so I’ve gotten quite pale.”
Fans were divided in the comment section, with a number of people of colour saying that they use the same shade as the star.
However, others say that Molly-Mae is not in any way attempting to replicate a culture that isn’t her own.
People are gonna act bare shocked when Molly-Mae is the next Love Islander to commit suicide. The foundation still matches the tan on her neck despite the bottle lasting her since being in the villa when she was tanned, so how about shut up n fuck off cos I’m bored https://t.co/8HRkuKuIbG
— clo (@__chloehenryxxo) November 24, 2019
A number of fans have pointed out that the Love Islander seems to receive a higher level of backlash and scrutiny than other contestants on the reality show, and that commentators should be mindful of the 20-year-old’s mental health.
“People are gonna act bare shocked when Molly-Mae is the next Love Islander to commit suicide,” said one.
Molly-Mae’s makeup immediately after she’s blended her NC42 foundation vs Molly after she’s done her whole face. What part of this is Blackfishing pls?????? Does she not still look like the white girl that she is???? Or am I missing something????? pic.twitter.com/FlkwyY3IZC
— Mami Wata ????????♀️ (@msangelinejolie) November 24, 2019
lol who said molly-mae is blackfishing? man I hate this app????
— a.w????????♀️ (@_annzyx) November 24, 2019
blackfishing definitely does exist and there are white people who purposely change their appearance to look racially ambiguous, yes, but Molly-Mae Hague is not one of them. Leave my babe to fake tan in peace
— Mami Wata ????????♀️ (@msangelinejolie) November 24, 2019
Still can’t stop thinking about Molly-Mae’s foundation shade tbh ????
— Roche (@RochelleNaylor) November 21, 2019
Like yeah that foundation is definitely not her shade but why is Molly-Mae constantly being dragged. She doesn’t even hurt anyone she minds her business uno?
— ً (@neymiana) November 23, 2019
Oh my lawwwdddd. Watching Molly-Mae’s everyday makeup routine. And she uses foundation that is at least 4 shades darker.
Anything for the racially ambiguous look ay????
— ???????????????? ????o???????????????? (???????????? ????????????????????????????) (@WiniBoansi) November 18, 2019
we’re facing climate change and y’all wanna argue about whether Molly-Mae’s foundation looks good??? THE EARTH IS DYING
— lucy (@liIbitdramatic) November 25, 2019
rah my foundation would be too light for a whole molly-mae. incredible
— ????Rōgan ???? (@ifursure) November 24, 2019