I don’t usually dig into heavy topics on What The Fab, but occasionally when something rubs me the wrong way, it’s nice to have this blog as an outlet (like when Kate Upton was being called fat). This is one of those times.
When Covergirl announced that Sofia Vergara was their newest Covergirl, I thought it was great. She’s gorgeous with a bangin, curvy body and she’s funny as hell on Modern Family. But over the past few months I’ve become increasingly aware of the fact that Sofia Vergara’s Covergirl ads look a bit…off.
SOFIA VERGARA – THE NEW COVERGIRL
At first I thought they just looked a bit odd because they’d photoshopped Sofia Vergara so much, she didn’t look like herself. But then I realized all her Covergirl ads had a clear trend. She didn’t look like herself because she looked white washed. Covergirl is clearly putting harsh lighting on her, using lighter makeup than her natural skin tone, and photoshopping the crap (or rather, the Latina) out of her. She looks like a pretty brunette, but she sure as shit doesn’t look like herself. Exhibit A.
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| Barely even recognized her here |
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| This one’s probably the most natural looking one. At least her skin tone isn’t ridiculously light. |
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| Whoops. Where’d that golden glow go? |
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| Pretty freakin white |
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| Who the heck is that? |
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| Ok, this one is from afar, so I’ll cut it some slack. |
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| I didn’t feel all that motivated to write this post until I flipped open my Marie Claire and saw this latest SV Covergirl ad. Come on. I couldn’t even believe this was her. She’s as pale as Emma Stone here. |
Let’s compare those with her latest commercial for her Kmart line…
Or her Pepsi ads…
Big difference. And it bugs me. Because it sends the message that fairer-skinned is better. She is so stunning, but apparently Covergirl thought whiter was better.
Lots of magazines and makeup companies have gotten flack for white washing their models. And they always say “Oh it’s the lighting,” or “We wanted to highlight the makeup.” Bullshit. Why pick a Black/Latina/whatever model just so you can make her look pale? What’s the point, if you’re not showing how your makeup really looks on their natural skin tone? Why not highlight her skin tone and gorgeous look? When you run an ad campaign that turns someone like Sofia Vergara into a pasty chick, it sends the wrong message.
I could go on and on about this. It reminds me of one of my best friends from grad school, who’s from India. She has gorgeous dark skin, but in India, dark skin is associated with lower class. So my friend is always trying to stay out of the sun, and has even tried skin-lightening products. It’s absolutely ridiculous. She’s a beautiful girl and doesn’t need that crap. And ads like the ones above just perpetuate this mindset.
I’ll end by saying that Covergirl needs to take a hint from Estee Lauder:
Oh, and another random reason why I don’t like Covergirl. They make a pretty girl like Taylor Swift look like a rat. Now that takes some doing:
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
Miss Vegas
Tuesday 23rd of February 2016
She is white! She is 100% Caucasian! She was born in Columbia, but her family is of Portuguese and Spanish descent from Europe....so yes she is Caucasian! She was a beautiful natural blonde haired girl with light eyes as a child! There are many Latino female and males that are Portuguese and/or Spanish from Europe, but live or was born in Central America, South America , and North America!
Miss Vegas
Tuesday 23rd of February 2016
She is white! She is 100% Caucasian! She was born in Columbia, but her family is of Portuguese and Spanish descent from Europe....so yes she is Caucasian! She was a beautiful natural blonde haired girl with light eyes as a child! There are many Latino female and males that are Portuguese and/or Spanish from Europe, but live or was born in Central America, South America , and North America!
GirlYouKnow
Tuesday 9th of June 2015
I have no doubt that she is of European decent primarily. But also, she looks mixed too.Sometimes people notice things more if you are from another country, in facial structure , etc.. if you from a Hispanic country, and you are used to seeing the same things everyday, you might not take note of the differences as much as another person from another country, and vice versa if your Hispanic looking at other countries, so don't take it the wrong way. To me, she looks European, but also, with some heritage of Mestizo, or even African, that is possible. Point, is, she does look a little mixed. What is considered "white " in Latin or South American , hispanic countries, may not see "white" in European countries or the U.S. Most of us are mixed anyway. I am a "white " person from the U.S., but i have native american and some african heritage from way back. But i am a pale freckeled brunette with blue eyes, but with higher cheekbones, and more of a facial structure that is mixed somewhere from ancestry. So, yeah, its not always about skin color, but can have a lot to do with facial structure. Also, she has a great body, not saying that European and other's dont. But, she may have also recieved a lot of her great figure from ancestry that has some features of big breasts, hips, etc, that is also known in a lot of African ethnicities, so , you have to look at the whole picture. Also, to my knowledge Mestizo is the largest population in Columbia. She is a beautiful woman. Thats just my opinion as someone who is interested in people, cultures, history, etc. thanks
Aura Lasix
Friday 12th of September 2014
Sofia Vergara is very fair. Ella esta muy rubia. Nobody made her skin look whiter than it is, she is a white woman. Would this even be a discussion if a usually tan Jennifer Aniston appeared lighter on the magazine? No it wouldn't. So please stop your argument is invalid and offensive. Por favor vaya educarse...
Aura Lasix
Friday 12th of September 2014
Umm you do realize she IS white. Hispanic is not a race, it is a term used to describe people of latin countries. For instance a Black man or Asian woman from Chilé would be considered hispanic it has nothing to do with race. Sofia Vergara is not being white washed by CG because she is a white woman. Its actually offensive that you would call her out as being "white washed", she is white so how are they making her more white? She was born in Columbia but like many from there is most likely a decedent of European settlers and conquistadors. ~ Your Friendly Neighborhood Hispanic Studies Grad Student.