--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started, there was only one other…" description: "\"When I started, there was only one other girl that I could name that was even close to my shade. I didn't understand why there weren't more black plus-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/philomena-kwao-9294_beauty_when-i-started-there-was-only-one-other_1466716.jpg" --- # When I started, there was only one other girl that I could… ![“When I started, there was only one other girl that I could name that was even close to my shade. I didn't understand why there weren't more black plus-size models with darker skin tones. It feels like the final frontier of beauty is to be black, to be plus, to have natural hair.” quote by Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/philomena-kwao-9294_beauty_when-i-started-there-was-only-one-other_1466716.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/philomena-kwao-9294_beauty_when-i-started-there-was-only-one-other_1466716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/philomena-kwao-9294_beauty_when-i-started-there-was-only-one-other_1466716.jpg) > “When I started, there was only one other girl that I could name that was even close to my shade. I didn't understand why there weren't more black plus-size models with darker skin tones. It feels like the final frontier of beauty is to be black, to be plus, to have natural hair.” [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fashion industry lacks representation of dark‑skinned, plus‑size models, making it feel like an uncharted space. **In simple terms:** Beauty standards still exclude many bodies and tones. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader inclusion. Themes diversity beauty standards representation Mood hopeful determined Type call to action observational When to use this quote - runway shows - advertising campaigns - model casting decisions Key Concepts intersectionality media influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you support inclusive representation? - What barriers exist for diverse models? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched industry norms takes time and resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Natural hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-hair/) [Skin tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-tone/) ## Related quotes > [“No, I’m NOT Team Light Skin. No, I’m NOT Team Dark Skin. No, I’m NOT Team Brown Skin. I’m Team Melanin because we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/no-i-m-not-team-light-skin-no-i-m-not-team-dark-skin-no-i-m-not-team/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [My type, which I didnt realize until somebody pointed out to me, apparently is brunettes with darker skin tones, but that is about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/my-type-which-i-didnt-realize-until-somebody-pointed-out-to-me/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [When I was a child, the world of makeup was so different. There wasn't the wide range of shades available for darker skin tones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcgrath/when-i-was-a-child-the-world-of-makeup-was-so-different-there-wasn-t/) [Pat McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcgrath/) > [Rents once sais, thirs nothin like a darker skin tone tae increase the vigilance ay the police n the magistrates: too right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/rents-once-sais-thirs-nothin-like-a-darker-skin-tone-tae-increase-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My type, which I didn't realize until somebody pointed out to me, apparently is brunettes with darker skin tones, but that is about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/my-type-which-i-didn-t-realize-until-somebody-pointed-out-to-me/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [The way I was taught, being black was a plus, always. Being a human being, being in America, and being black, all three were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leontyne-price/the-way-i-was-taught-being-black-was-a-plus-always-being-a-human/) [Leontyne Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leontyne-price/) > [“In the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were, it bore not beauty’s name. But now is black beauty’s successive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/in-the-old-age-black-was-not-counted-fair-or-if-it-were-it-bore-not/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [God Bless Black People, Black Is Beauty. Once You Go Black, You Never Go Back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kel/god-bless-black-people-black-is-beauty-once-you-go-black-you-never-go/) [Don Kel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kel/) > [There's one more thing I want to say. It's a touchy subject. Black beauty. Black sensuality. We live in a culture where the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-watley/there-s-one-more-thing-i-want-to-say-it-s-a-touchy-subject-black/) [Jody Watley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-watley/) > [Much noise has been about size diversity but not enough about skin tone diversity. It's time for this to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/much-noise-has-been-about-size-diversity-but-not-enough-about-skin/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [Growing up, I had body confidence issues, not really so much because of size but my skin color. I had trouble recognizing that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/growing-up-i-had-body-confidence-issues-not-really-so-much-because-of/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [I think that the plus-size industry has been great with size diversity, but it hasn't really been great for skin tone diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/i-think-that-the-plus-size-industry-has-been-great-with-size/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [Magazines don't go far enough to be inclusive and have at least have one model representing every major skin tone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/magazines-don-t-go-far-enough-to-be-inclusive-and-have-at-least-have/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world - the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/european-standards-of-beauty-are-something-that-plague-the-entire/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The lighter the skin, the more acceptable you are. The darker the skin, the more marginalised you become. I want to demonstrate that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/the-lighter-the-skin-the-more-acceptable-you-are-the-darker-the-skin/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) ## More by Philomena Kwao > [Women of all ethnicities, complexions, and sizes want to be able to wear makeup and nice clothes. No one wants to go out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/women-of-all-ethnicities-complexions-and-sizes-want-to-be-able-to/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [It's refreshing to see plus women being treated as part of the fashion community as a whole and not just a separate piece or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/it-s-refreshing-to-see-plus-women-being-treated-as-part-of-the/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [The #SwimSexy campaign is redefining standards of beauty, and I'm proud to be a part of it. My hope is that this campaign connects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/the-swimsexy-campaign-is-redefining-standards-of-beauty-and-i-m-proud/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [I want to use my voice to better health care for pregnant women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/i-want-to-use-my-voice-to-better-health-care-for-pregnant-women/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > ['Sports Illustrated' has set the standard for what a swimsuit model should be. For a magazine that has that much influence to include models…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/sports-illustrated-has-set-the-standard-for-what-a-swimsuit-model/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [My mother was born in Ghana, but she moved to the U.K. when my sisters and I were born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/my-mother-was-born-in-ghana-but-she-moved-to-the-u-k-when-my-sisters/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [Fat is fat. This goes back to the word 'plus.' We describe things. We are humans, and we need to describe things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/fat-is-fat-this-goes-back-to-the-word-plus-we-describe-things-we-are/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [My best advice is to celebrate your own unique features and never put them down. There is beauty in individuality, and it's so important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/my-best-advice-is-to-celebrate-your-own-unique-features-and-never-put/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [Growing up, I had body confidence issues, not really so much because of size but my skin color. I had trouble recognizing that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/growing-up-i-had-body-confidence-issues-not-really-so-much-because-of/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [We have spent so many years looking at images of another beauty ideal and so many years taking in magazine covers and films that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/we-have-spent-so-many-years-looking-at-images-of-another-beauty-ideal/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [I am from Ghana, and although Ghana is celebrated as a relatively peaceful country in a historically war-torn region, the issues of development and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/i-am-from-ghana-and-although-ghana-is-celebrated-as-a-relatively/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [Because of social media, it's bridged the gap between the advertisers and fashion and allowed people to find their group. It really widens what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/because-of-social-media-it-s-bridged-the-gap-between-the-advertisers/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [There's not many models in the U.S. that have my depth - like, really dark skin - that are also plus size. Skin color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/there-s-not-many-models-in-the-u-s-that-have-my-depth-like-really/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [For me, less is more. I don't often wear makeup, but when I do, a little concealer and some powder go a long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/for-me-less-is-more-i-don-t-often-wear-makeup-but-when-i-do-a-little/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) > [Much noise has been about size diversity but not enough about skin tone diversity. It's time for this to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philomena-kwao/much-noise-has-been-about-size-diversity-but-not-enough-about-skin/) [Philomena Kwao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) [Explore all 74 Philomena Kwao quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philomena-kwao/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) [Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started, there was only one other girl that I could name that was even close to my shade. I didn't understand why there weren't more black plus-size models with darker skin tones. 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