Nollywood actress Habibat Jinadu has revealed that she bleached her skin in order to secure movie roles, saying dark-skinned and slim actresses often struggled to get opportunities in the industry.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Yoruba, Jinadu explained that she felt compelled to change her appearance to advance her career.

“I bleached my skin because if you were dark-skinned, then you would not get a role. Also, if you were not chubby but slim, you would not get a role. So, I went ahead, bleached my skin and started expecting to get roles. And indeed, I started getting roles,” she said.

She added that the change in her complexion made it difficult for people to recognise her outside film sets.

“But people could not recognise me any longer. If I stepped out to buy something, people would go like, ‘You look familiar,’ ‘You look like an actress,’ and all sorts. I was not happy with it, but I kept on pushing,” she said.

Jinadu further disclosed that she began sustaining injuries and skin tears from minor bruises while working on movie sets. She eventually stopped bleaching her skin after becoming pregnant in 2023.

Her comments have reignited discussions about colourism and beauty standards in Nollywood.