Mirror Mirror on the Wall Who is Fairest of us All..

How many of us can actually deny the fact that we haven't given a second glance to a good looking person. I mean honestly who doesn't really wants to look glamorous and sexy. When I went to India recently, I see this ridiculous ad where the girl goes to check out her future husband (in India its usually the other way round), thanks to the fairness cream, she gets to make a choice now. I didn't know how to react this kind of promotion of a fairness cream. This doesn't stop here , another brand shows this guy who gets shunned by a girl because of his looks and then turns to the brand's cream only to emerge "fair and handsome" and finally to turn her down. I turn around to see my 8yr old niece all dressed up and shouting back me "I look fairer than you". Very recently one of my friends had a baby boy..and when she sends the pictures, I see emails back to her saying how fair the baby was and in turn how good he looked. Man!!! why are looks when coupled with lighter skin tone labeled good looking.

Personally, I do think I did pretty good academically and socially in my high school and college, but the huge irony is today people recall me connected to the prettiest Ahem!! the girl with the lightest skin color in class, it is indeed a matter of great discomfort when someone messages you and says "Oh you were in HER batch". I can understand why looks stand out as a very important factor in peoples lives. I have seen people be in positions where they couldn't have otherwise just because of their looks after all its just human psychology. Personally I am guilty of this too, my mother keeps yelling at me from time to time.. "Move out of Florida for heavens sake, you look like you are from AFRICA". On my recent trip to India, my neighbor walks up to me and is like "Enti ela padaipoyyavu" (Literal translation English it means.. "How come you are so messed up". Before my brain let thoughts that were churning in my head turned to words my mother stumbled out to say.. "Oh they went to a desert for vacation, can you imagine how hot it gets back there" Phew!!! thanks mom.

Its funny when it stops here. The arranged marriage system in India which according to me is some where in between a bane and a boon. I have seen friends depressed about that whole thing. Also how they would lose good proposals because of their dark skin. Its so hard for me to digest that something as simple and as natural as your skin color can weigh so much that you spend your entire adult life trying to carry it.