Unpretty Podcast
36 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -Unpacking perceptions of beauty so deeply ingrained in society, through the lens of Black and non-black people of colour and our mutual struggles and challenges - be it discrimination, appropriation or simply lack of options.
Each episode will be centred on one single theme, topic or question, we will discuss societal misrepresentation, decipher myths, share personal stories and ask those questions that maybe you didn't think you could ask, or simply didn't know how.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @unprettypodcast
#UnprettyPodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Unpretty & Unfiltered with...Megan Crabbe
July 15, 2021 12:53 - 59 minutes - 110 MBWe're back with our final episode for season 2, another edition of Unpretty & Unfiltered, where we have unfiltered chats with trailblazers from our community: talking about their personal journeys and experiences as people of colour. We're joined by author, digital creator, and presenter, Megan Crabbe (formerly known as BodyPosiPanda) for our fifth edition. We get Megan's take on a few of the topics we've discussed on the podcast so far, such as mental health, lockdown hair, and body hair...
Unpretty Recommends
July 01, 2021 13:41 - 53 minutes - 98.5 MBNo doubt, over the past 15 months, we've all been exploring new beauty rituals and products. The Unpretty Podcast team (Basma, Chi, and Kaydine) catch up to talk about the products that we've recently been trying out, as well as some of our staple beauty items, all of which we recommend you try for yourselves. Chi Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo: https://www.boots.com/shea-moisture-jamaican-black-castor-oil-strengthen-and-restore-shampoo-10203997 Fable & Mane HoliRoots...
Body hair, don't care with Marissa Malik and Henna Amin
June 17, 2021 14:00 - 52 minutes - 96.7 MBBody hair is something that as, as women of colour growing up in the global north, are taught to be ashamed of. From early introductions to hair removal (brow threading, sugaring, bleaching) to adolescent shaming in the changing rooms at school; our darker, often thicker hair can be more visible on the skin leading to insecurities about our perceptions of our own beauty, particularly in the South Asian communities. Body hair positivity is on the rise, but with the erasure of the Black trans ...
Protecting the crown with Kelechi Okafor and Dawn Butler
June 03, 2021 19:14 - 58 minutes - 107 MBThe year is 2021 and still, in the UK, there are no legislations outlawing hair discrimination whether it's in schools or the workplace, with groups such as Project Embrace and the Halo Collective fighting for change, how are we still here? We are joined by MP for Brent Central, Dawn Butler, former Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, and Kelechi Okafor, actress, director, and public speaker, to talk discuss the problems and possible ways that we can contribute to enforce lo...
Casting call with Ola Christian and Rae Elliman
May 20, 2021 21:52 - 58 minutes - 108 MBBoth the fashion industry and film and tv industries came under fire post-June 2020 regarding the lack of diverse representation of the communities they claim to serve. Conversations about representative casting in the UK span beyond even the last decade, but what progress has been made? Does the art reflect "the time now" - as Gemma Chan notably said in her 2019 Allure interview? Almost a year following the commitments of June 2020, where are we now, and what more is there to be done? W...
Unpretty and Unfiltered with...Sir John
May 06, 2021 09:11 - 58 minutes - 107 MBWe're back with another edition of Unpretty & Unfiltered, where we have unfiltered chats with trailblazers from our community: talking about their personal journey and experiences as people of colour. For this fifth edition, we're joined by global celebrity make-up artist behind many of Beyoncé's iconic beauty looks, Sir John, who shares how he has navigated the beauty industry as a black man, his collaboration with Barbie, why mental health is important to him, why you should always use ...
Grillz - do they make your mouth smell?
April 21, 2021 23:55 - 49 minutes - 90.7 MBGold teeth and grillz were once something most frequently seen on black hip hop artists or TV gangsters, but in more recent years are more widely worn by people from all different cultures. We are joined by Solange Garcia and Tania Townsend from Milk and Honey London and Donnie Sunshine to discuss the history of dental adornments - from Ancient Etruscans to liberated American slaves, and why they are so popular today. Unpretty Podcast www.instagram/unprettypodcast www.twitter.com/unpret...
Getting wiggy with Twiggy Jalloh and Gina Knight
April 07, 2021 23:01 - 58 minutes - 107 MBWigs and weaves play integral roles in the culture of black beauty. Whether as a form of visual and creative expression, a protective hairstyle or an attempt to assimilate to Eurocentric beauty standards, each person's motivations differ. We're joined by Twiggy Jalloh, beauty and lifestyle writer at British Vogue, and award-winning wig designer, Gina Knight to explore the complexities of hair pieces and extensions, personal experiences and outward exceptions, while discussing what goes int...
There's no shame in menstrual health...with Zing Tsjeng and Karen Arthur
March 25, 2021 00:51 - 54 minutes - 99.6 MBPeriods are one of the many taboo subjects rarely covered in traditional African and South Asian cultures - Amika George talks about the outdated myths and superstitions surrounding the impurity of a girl who's menstruating - whether it's the prohibited entry into temples or the more extreme banishment into designated huts in rural communities in Africa and South Asia. Menopause is talked about even less, but as women, we will all go through it. We want to talk about why it's such a taboo,...
Clean Beauty, Ayurveda and Ingredient Storytelling with Akash Mehta and Laila-Jean Washington
March 11, 2021 00:30 - 55 minutes - 101 MBNatural beauty remedies have strong roots in cultures from the Global South, long before the commercialisation from the household cosmetics companies we know today. From argan and coconut oils, shea butter and ayurvedic remedies, the assorted use of these raw ingredients has often been a way for black and brown people to create their own clean products, where the big brands and retailers failed to deliver. During the national lockdown with many of our go-to beauty retailers deemed "non-ess...
Clean beauty, Ayurveda and ingredient storytelling with Akash Mehta and Laila-Jean Washington
March 11, 2021 00:30 - 55 minutes - 101 MBNatural beauty remedies have strong roots in cultures from the Global South, long before the commercialisation from the household cosmetics companies we know today. From argan and coconut oils, shea butter and ayurvedic remedies, the assorted use of these raw ingredients has often been a way for black and brown people to create their own clean products, where the big brands and retailers failed to deliver. During the national lockdown with many of our go-to beauty retailers deemed "non-ess...
Season 2 is coming...
March 08, 2021 23:33 - 1 minute - 3.39 MBSeason 2 of the Unpretty Podcast will be dropping very soon! We've got some great guests, (some of which you've asked us to get on the podcast), that join our co-hosts Chi Ufodiama and Basma Khalifa to explore the world of beauty through the lens of Black and non-black people of colour. Make sure you're subscribed to be the first to hear when the first episode of this season goes live. #UnprettyPodcast @unprettypodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s time for some beauty sleep
December 08, 2020 18:19 - 29 minutes - 53.8 MBFor the final episode of our first season, Basma and Chi are joined by producer Kaydine to discuss our favourite moments, key learnings and plans for season two. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loc'd and loaded with Akinola Davies Jnr
November 24, 2020 15:34 - 57 minutes - 105 MBLocs, dreads, dreadlocks, whatever you call them it’s difficult to find a more divisive hair style in black British culture. From the historic roots stemming back to slavery or Rastafari culture to the more modern day work place “beauty standards” and appropriation, we want to talk about it all. Joining Chi and Bas on our last themed episode of the season, is film maker Akinola Davies Jnr, who shares his long term commitment to locs and we ask him all the questions we've had since the fir...
Loc'd and loaded with Akinola Davis Jnr
November 24, 2020 15:34 - 57 minutes - 105 MBLocs, dreads, dreadlocks, whatever you call them it’s difficult to find a more divisive hair style in black British culture. From the historic roots stemming back to slavery or Rastafari culture to the more modern day work place “beauty standards” and appropriation, we want to talk about it all. Joining Chi and Bas on our last themed episode of the season, is film maker Akinola Davies Jnr, who shares his long term commitment to locs and we ask him all the questions we've had since the fir...
Colourism: skin tone bias, status, and the white lens with Poorna Bell and Tobi Kyeremateng
November 10, 2020 23:13 - 55 minutes - 102 MBThe topic of colourism has come up again and again throughout our conversations on the Unpretty Podcast so we wanted to take the time to properly unpack and understand all elements, across various cultures. Living in the West, in a largely white society - where a good tan is associated with luxury and a sign of good health - colourism feels like a concept as foreign as our names. But it still very much lives within the black and brown communities, both in our native countries and in the w...
Mental health stigmas in POC communities with Dr Rupy Aujla and Agnes Mwakatuma
October 27, 2020 14:31 - 55 minutes - 103 MBMental health is a key component to our perception of our own beauty and self esteem. Although we’ve come a long way in terms of awareness, the subject of mental health is often still stigmatised amongst non-white cultures, and discussions around any mental health battles you may be facing seen as a taboo subject, e.g the issue of masking pain is especially still prevalent amongst non-white men. With the amount of challenges that 2020 has brought, there has never been a more important ti...
Is it problematic to have a racial dating preference? With Evelyn Mok and Vick Hope
October 14, 2020 22:19 - 54 minutes - 101 MBEver been told you are ‘someone's type’, but because of your ethnicity rather than personality? Have you ever been told you are someones shade? Fetishising race has been part of a long and troubling history that has been an issue through time, from black people's bodies fetishised since slavery, to South Asian women being seen as submissive by western males. From the recurring “I want mixed race children” justification of seeking out a particular race, to the exclusively dating outside of yo...
Unpretty & Unfiltered: The team talk Black History Month
September 29, 2020 13:04 - 30 minutes - 56.1 MBRecorded on Monday 28th of September, Basma and Chi are joined by producer Kaydine to reflect on actions since June 2nd and anticipate what is to come over Black History Month. Black History Month, celebrated throughout October in the UK, is a time firmly placed in the cultural calendar with many insitutions from the BBC to the British Film Institute rolling out programming each year across the month and educational settings dedicating the curriculum to teaching Black history. We discuss ...
Rethinking "nude" as a colour
September 15, 2020 10:51 - 58 minutes - 107 MBAs people of colour (or actually people in general) we are taught about the concept of nude as one homogenous colour - falling somewhere on the spectrum between peach and beige. The style media tells us that a nude court shoe will elongate our legs, a nude lip is a must have, wear nude underwear under white clothing, nude tights will keep you warm without ruining your overall look, but when the shades aren’t there, where does that leave people of colour? This is something we all face f...
Rethinking "nude" as a colour with Anita Bhagwandas and Ade Hassan
September 15, 2020 10:51 - 58 minutes - 107 MBAs people of colour (or actually people in general) we are taught about the concept of nude as one homogenous colour - falling somewhere on the spectrum between peach and beige. The style media tells us that a nude court shoe will elongate our legs, a nude lip is a must have, wear nude underwear under white clothing, nude tights will keep you warm without ruining your overall look, but when the shades aren’t there, where does that leave people of colour? This is something we all face from ...
Unpretty and Unfiltered with...Munya Chawawa
August 28, 2020 13:33 - 55 minutes - 101 MBWe're back with another edition of Unpretty and Unfiltered, where we have unfiltered chats with trailblazers from our community: talking about their personal journey and experiences as people of colour. For this third edition, we welcome comedian Munya Chawawa to share his rise to the top of our Instagram feeds. We speak about his upbringing, the hilarious characters he brings to life, and of course his eyebrows. Unpretty Podcast https://www.instagram.com/unprettypodcast/ https://twi...
Being mixed race and navigating through your identity with Bluey Robinson and Jasmine Müller
August 14, 2020 11:01 - 58 minutes - 107 MB“Mixed race” is widely reported as the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK, yet encompasses so many different variations of people of dual or multiple heritage. In race conversations, people of mixed heritage are often sidelined, or asked to “pick a side”, pushing them to turn their back on one part of their culture in order to let the other define them. Being told they are “too much” or one thing or “not enough” of the other. But why can’t all elements be expressed and celebrated in tan...
Connecting to culture through body art with Joy Crookes, Nish Rowe, and Sabira Haque
July 31, 2020 01:20 - 56 minutes - 104 MBBoth are at the crossroads of bodies and art, but originate from different cultures and have different histories, which have now taken on new meanings in today’s society. Henna is steeped in traditions from the Arabian Penninsula, Indian subcontinent and the North & horn of Africa. However today what does Henna mean? When did Henna become so popular outside of its traditional usage, and is it solely connected to religion? Tattoos are an old tradition dating as far back as 2000 BC, with Egy...
How do our cultural diets affect our bodies? With Yasmin Evans and Linia Patel
July 17, 2020 13:02 - 59 minutes - 109 MBFor people of colour, food is a huge part of our lives, it not only represents our culture but also the community we are part of. In this episode we want to discuss the impact of cultural diets on our skin and hair. The bottom line is that whatever’s going on inside your gut will eventually show in your skin and hair. Food is the foundation of our lives, and diet is the main way for the body to obtain the required substances for growth and maintenance. Modern science has proven that an imb...
Bringing your true authentic self to work with Kevin Morosky and Nicole Crentsil
July 02, 2020 22:24 - 53 minutes - 73.9 MBAs black people, particularly women, we often change our hair, whether it’s braids, weaves, wigs and when you do, you have to prepare for the influx of questions. But what does it feel like when you feel like you are being judged on your hair and appearance at work? When you are made to feel inadequate or made to feel like how you look is a question on your ability to do your job? When you google “unprofessional hair” images of black people with natural hair still appears. California was th...
Changing shades and SPF with Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe and Jules Von Hep
June 18, 2020 17:58 - 56 minutes - 77.2 MBChi and Basma speak to Jules von Hep, celebrity spray-tanner and founder of self-tan brand Isle of Paradise, and clinical expert Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe and ask why conversations around tanning - be it from the sun or from a bottle - largely exclude black and non-black people of colour? Is it due to Western pressures and ignorance? Inter-cultural colourism? Lack of awareness within the communities? A marketing oversight? Or perhaps a combination of all of the above. The British Skin Foundation s...
Changing Shades and SPF with Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe and Jules Von Hep
June 18, 2020 17:58 - 56 minutes - 77.2 MBChi and Basma speak to Jules von Hep, celebrity spray-tanner and founder of self-tan brand Isle of Paradise, and clinical expert Dr Ewoma Ukeleghe and ask why conversations around tanning - be it from the sun or from a bottle - largely exclude black and non-black people of colour? Is it due to Western pressures and ignorance? Inter-cultural colourism? Lack of awareness within the communities? A marketing oversight? Or perhaps a combination of all of the above. The British Skin Foundation...
Unpretty and Unfiltered with...the Unpretty Team
June 04, 2020 20:03 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBIt's been a week. It's been a year. It's been a lifetime. The news surrounding the brutal murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in America who died at the hands of four racist police officers has given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement globally. This episode was recorded on Wednesday 3rd June 2020, the day after all of our Instagram feeds turned black in solidarity against racism. While the world reads, reflects and says they are ready to listen, we too have been reading their...
Unpretty and Unfiltered with...Jayde Pierce
May 21, 2020 19:15 - 53 minutes - 73.4 MBIntroducing a new regular feature, Unpretty and Unfiltered, where we will have an unfiltered chat with trailblazers from our community; talking about their personal journey and experiences as people of colour. For the first edition, Basma and Chi welcome beauty influencer Jayde Pierce to share her story so far, from growing up as a mixed race child in a predominantly black household, motherhood and becoming one of the UK’s leading beauty influencers. Warning: This episode contains a candid...
3. Unpretty and Unfiltered with...Jayde Pierce
May 21, 2020 19:15 - 53 minutes - 73.4 MBIntroducing a new regular feature, Unpretty and Unfiltered, where we will have an unfiltered chat with trailblazers from our community; talking about their personal journey and experiences as people of colour. For the first edition, Basma and Chi welcome beauty influencer Jayde Pierce to share her story so far, from growing up as a mixed race child in a predominantly black household, motherhood and becoming one of the UK’s leading beauty influencers. Warning: This episode contains a candid...
2. How can the media nail inclusive beauty without being tokenistic? With Tolly T and Josh Smith
May 07, 2020 21:02 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBIn 2018, Afua Hirsch wrote a story for the Guardian discussing the lack of representation within mainstream magazines. "Through ignorance and indifference, they frequently featured no one of black, Asian, mixed or any other ethnic minority heritage from cover to cover, while advice on makeup, skin care, hair styles and products was unfailingly." Since then, things have progressed somewhat but is it really enough? With the majority of beauty content produced by the mainstream media either al...
How can the media nail inclusive beauty without being tokenistic? With Tolly T and Josh Smith
May 07, 2020 21:02 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBIn 2018, Afua Hirsch wrote a story for the Guardian discussing the lack of representation within mainstream magazines. "Through ignorance and indifference, they frequently featured no one of black, Asian, mixed or any other ethnic minority heritage from cover to cover, while advice on makeup, skin care, hair styles and products was unfailingly." Since then, things have progressed somewhat but is it really enough? With the majority of beauty content produced by the mainstream media either al...
So, what are you doing about your hair during lockdown? With Charlotte Mensah and Slider Cuts
April 23, 2020 21:28 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBMainstream beauty media have extensively covered "at home" beauty hacks from fringe upkeep, to touching up your roots but what about textured / afro hair? Whether you've got a fade, beard, braids, buzz cut, dreads, weaves, an afro, the lockdown restricts access to our beloved barbers and hair stylists and many of us are having to learn to do it ourselves. Award winning hairstylist, Charlotte Mensah, and barber to the stars, Mark Maciver (aka Slider Cuts), join Chi and Basma, sharing their t...
1. So, what are you doing about your hair during lockdown? With Charlotte Mensah and Slider Cuts
April 23, 2020 21:28 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBMainstream beauty media have extensively covered "at home" beauty hacks from fringe upkeep, to touching up your roots but what about textured / afro hair? Whether you've got a fade, beard, braids, buzz cut, dreads, weaves, an afro, the lockdown restricts access to our beloved barbers and hair stylists and many of us are having to learn to do it ourselves. Award winning hairstylist, Charlotte Mensah, and barber to the stars, Mark Maciver (aka Slider Cuts), join Chi and Basma, sharing their t...
Unpretty Podcast Intro
April 22, 2020 20:26 - 22 seconds - 528 KBJoin hosts Basma Khalifa and Chi Ufodiama on a journey to explore the world of beauty through the lens of people of colour - with the help of some special guests. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @unprettypodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.