British actor, writer and director Zawe Ashton has shared her thoughts on the issues facing the beauty industry.
While getting ready for the Baftas, Ashton spoke to Elle about her attitude towards beauty products, and how the industry reflects diversity.
The said more needs to be done to “empower young women of colour” because “they’ve got the double whammy in terms of prejudice, suppression, and historical sh**ness.”
The 32-year-old acknowledged that many people are trying to help give women of colour more visibility but that: “There are a lot of questions that still need to be fired at more Caucasian straight men in positions of power.
"We’re doing everything we can from our side but there are still gatekeepers.”
While she enjoys wearing makeup, Ashton also recognises the consequences of her fame.
“I think that a woman’s relationship with her own image is already complicated without necessarily having that image reflected back at you so constantly,” said the actor, who starred in Fresh Meat.
“Sometimes being in a dialogue with the mirror is enough, let alone having the more self-conscious elements of what I do like the photographs or the red carpet as well.”
Ashton explained that she started acting when she was six, which was when she first experienced wearing makeup, and believes beauty products can be a powerful and “transformative” way for women to “enhance [their] feminine energy”.
Her comments reflect a growing desire to see the beauty industry become more progressive and inclusive.
Brands such as Tarte, It Cosmetics and Becca have been criticised for failing to properly represent women of colour in their ranges and campaigns, while a number of high profile influencers have been exposed for racist comments, “blackfishing” and using the N-word.
This isn’t the case across the board – Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, which launched in September 2017, included a 40-shade foundation range, and its recently released concealers come in 50 shades.
Ashton plays one of the lead characters in Velvet Buzzsaw, a Netflix film in cinemas now.
