Media personality and former secular artist Kush Tracey has candidly opened up about her past struggle with skin bleaching, revealing that her decision to lighten her complexion was deeply tied to insecurities, identity struggles and a longing for acceptance.
Speaking during an interview on BBC Africa’s The Conversation podcast, Kush shared that the journey was never simply about changing her appearance, but rather about trying to fit into beauty standards she believed society valued more.
“I used to bleach my skin trying to become someone I thought the world would accept more easily,” she said.
The media personality explained that what initially seemed like a beauty decision slowly exposed deeper emotional and psychological struggles.
“What started as beauty slowly revealed deeper battles with identity, conditioning, comparison and a distorted perception of self-worth,” she added.
Kush Tracey said the desire to bleach her skin stemmed from silent societal pressures that often make people feel they need to alter themselves to be considered attractive, worthy or lovable.
“Bleaching was never about skin tone but about the silent pressure many people carry to look ‘more acceptable’, ‘more beautiful’ or ‘more worthy’,” she shared.
During the interview, she reflected on the emotional impact that comparison culture and social validation had on her mindset at the time.
According to Kush, the need to fit into society’s image of beauty made her slowly lose sight of her authentic self.
However, the former secular musician said her healing journey began when she shifted her understanding of identity and self-worth.
“But healing began when my identity stopped being rooted in society’s standards and started being rooted in Jesus Christ,” she stated.
Kush Tracey, who has in recent years become vocal about her Christian faith and personal transformation, explained that faith helped her confront the internal battles she had previously ignored.
Over the years, Kush Tracey has undergone a noticeable personal rebrand, moving away from secular entertainment and increasingly embracing faith-centered conversations and lifestyle content.
