I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved and skin colour has nothing to do with it: Priyanka Chopra on Allure

Priyanka Chopra has been bossing it on magazines around the world for some time now. But her recent statement to Allure magazine proves why she is a global icon for young women. Talking to the magazine on the nature of beauty, she said, "I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved and skin color has nothing to do with it."

The actress was among 41 women of colour profiled by the magazine for their recent feature. The other women of Indian origin on the list included model and author Padma Lakshmi and comedian Lilly Singh.

However, it was Chopra's statement that took the cake. Speaking about the difficulty of growing with a 'different' skin colour, she said, "It’s so primitive that people are judged on the basis of the color of their skin. I mean, it’s skin. We all have it."

The actress went on to explain how she dealt with issues in her teens due to this judgement. "Everyone in America wants to get a tan, and everyone in Asia wants to get their skin lightened," she said. "I straddle both countries. Girls there are told that they are too dark or dusky and that lighter skin is better. Because I’m a darker tone, I had issues growing up as a teenager." 

However, Chopra did admit that times are changing. She said young women should learn to ignore the 'pressures' and move ahead, "Pressures exist and it’s on us to make those pressures not seem important to girls. I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved and skin color has nothing to do with it — in fact, it might have been an asset. I like the color of my skin very much."

Chopra has been hailed as a pioneer after becoming the first Indian actress to play the lead in an American television series, Quantico. The success of Quantico and her growing popularity among the media have helped her become one of the most recognized faces of Indian cinema.

In an inspiring statement, she added, "I feel a sense of responsibility with young girls everywhere — they can achieve anything that they want to do. There are so many girls around the world that are told that they can’t live their lives or they can’t behave a certain way because they’re girls. You know, we have to fight the fight ourselves. We have to show girl-love to each other. We need to encourage other women instead of knocking each other down.”

The opinion was similar to Padma Lakshmi who described how her 'grandmother discouraged us from going in the sun'. The others on the list include A-list talents like Demi Lovato, Meghan Markle, Tessa Thompson, and Eva Longoria. 

Here's to the women who speak out.