X FACTOR star Alexandra Burke has claimed she was advised to “bleach her skin” if she wanted a successful music career after winning the show.
The 31-year-old singer won the ITV talent show back in 2008, and said she has “experienced micro-aggression so many times” because she is black ever since.
She said “it was time to speak up” after the killing of George Floyd by cops in America sparked people around the world to join the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a video shared on Instagram this morning the brave star said: “The music industry is such a funny little place. I love singing, I love what I do, but if it wasn’t for the love that I have for music, I definitely wouldn’t be in this industry.
“A few reasons are, when I first won The X Factor at 19, I got told: ‘Right, because you’re black, you are gonna have to work ten times harder than a white artist because of the colour of your skin.
“‘You can’t have braids, you can’t have an afro, you can’t have anything that, basically, is my identity. You have to have hair, for example, that appeals to white people, so white people can understand you better.’ I mean, I was only 19 years old.
“There’s only so much you can understand at 19 when your life is completely changed overnight.”
Burke added: “That was quite hard to digest.
“I got told to bleach my skin, and that was something I refused to do because it is absurd to me that someone can even remotely say to someone: ‘Bleach your skin so that you can look whiter’. Still to this moment it breaks my heart that I was told that.
“I’m really trying my hardest to hold back tears because it’s really, heartbreaking the s**t that went on.”
After winning The X Factor Alexandra released singles Bad Boys, Broken Heels and Start Without You from her two albums, and went into acting, as well as becoming a ambassador for huge brands.
After leaving her label in 2013, she turned her attention fully to stage performing.
The singer took huge roles in The Bodyguard and, last year, Sister Act The Musical.
Alexandra captioned her video on Instagram: “Speak Up – Speak Out.
“I felt it was time to speak up… This is a scary moment for me. I didn’t always want to speak up.. but it is the right thing to do. So, here’s my truth, the positive and the emotional.
“Side note: When I talk about ‘not seeing colour’ I’m not referring to the idea of being blind to skin colour, I’m talking about the notion within the music industry and institutionally that whiter is better.
“Why does an industry that should be focused on vocal ability spend so much time dictating an artists worth on their colour?”
Alexandra said she was devastasted to hear fellow X Factor contestant Misha B’s experience on the show as a teenager, which she said left her feeling suicidal.
Misha claimed she was bullied by judge Tulisa Contostavlos and rumours were spread about her back stage.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicide, please reach out to organisations who can help: Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk).
