Oh dear! A beauty blogger who has won legions of fans for her honest posts about her struggles with acne was left ‘humiliated’ after being dropped by L’Oréal because
Kadeeja Khan, 21, from Birmingham was approached to be involved with a trip to Paris for the launch of a new vegan hair dye range, but then received an email saying: ‘L’Oréal can’t be working
with people with skin issues.’
‘After I’d already got my hopes up I was completely let down and insulted by their reason for not wanting to work with me,’ Kadeeja told The Sun.
‘It just shows that L’Oreal only want to work with people with perfect skin, but that isn’t real.
‘I know internet trolls will say horrible things to me, but to have that confirmed by an international brand has made me feel like there isn’t any space for people like me online.’
A spokesperson for L’Oréal apologised and said that a modelling agency had accidentally cast multiple bloggers with skin issues for the hair colour launch, and once the mistake was realised, it was ‘poorly and insensitively communicated’ to people. Kadeeja shared an email from the brand with her 128,000 followers expressing how hurt she felt by the wording.
‘To think we’re supposed to live in an advanced society that not only ACCEPTS of ALL walks of life but actually embraces people of all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and disabilities,’ she said. ‘Shame on you L’Oréal.
In a later post, she explained that the blunder had put her ‘in a dark place’.
‘I’ve come on this platform to show everyone who I am and what I’m about,’ she said.
‘I’m trying my best to shine the light on the things that matter. Show everyone that “yes you don’t have to be perfect! Love yourself regardless”.
‘I’m already use to trolls trying & bring me down.
‘But coming from a global international brand? Really hurt.
‘It honestly made me feel like their really isn’t any room in the industry for people like me.
‘It made me feel that “your worth it” ONLY if your perfect.’
However, she said that it had made her even more determined to carry on posting her honest selfies.
‘That has given me fuel,’ she said. ‘Fuel to continue to show you that you’re beautiful no matter what ANYONE says.
‘That even if it’s someone so huge & big. It still means NOTHING. Never stop loving yourself for who you are & NEVER change.’
L’Oréal’s statement
We deeply apologise for any upset caused, and have made direct contact with the individuals involved to clarify this unfortunate misunderstanding.“
The photoshoot was designed to support a new hair colour launch and feature hairdressers and lifestyle bloggers. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding resulted in the agency casting bloggers with skin concerns for this shoot.
This resulted in the wrong profile being cast, which was then poorly and insensitively communicated to the individuals concerned.
We do not have regulations in place that restrict us from working with people with skin conditions. At L’Oréal we work with women and men with all skin types and celebrate beauty in all its diversity.