MyStory: My dark skin haunts me

I was born dark-skinned in a house full of light-skinned people. I always felt left out and it hurt me. My siblings would throw it in my face that I am darker than them. They would tell me I was different and didn't belong to the family. They said I must have been given to the wrong family by mistake at the clinic.

I could never accepted who I was. I tried to bleach my skin for years. I used so many products but they never worked.

One day a guy in town sold me some pills. He told me that as soon as I took them, my skin would become lighter instantly. But I had an allergic reaction to the pills. I got very sick and ended up in the hospital.

Luckily I got help quickly. I’m better now and I am home with my family. But both my family and I got a shock. I’ve learnt that in life I don't need to look just like others in order to be pretty. I am learning to just be grateful of who I am - dark skin and all.

Sometimes it is easy to focus on a small characteristic you don’t like. But there are many versions of beauty. Try and see yourself as bigger than one feature. Focus on what make you special.

*This story was written by Tune Me community member.*