Singer-performer Alesha Dixon, former judge on reality show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, says prejudice prevails in showbiz as she was once told that a magazine won`t sell if a "black woman" was on the cover.
|Last Updated: Apr 03, 2013, 05:59 PM IST|Source: Bureau
London: Singer-performer Alesha Dixon, former judge on reality show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, says prejudice prevails in showbiz as she was once told that a magazine won`t sell if a "black woman" was on the cover.
"Sadly, I`ve learnt that prejudice still exists in parts of the entertainment industry. I did an interview with a magazine once and the journalist quite openly said they wouldn`t put a black person on the front cover because the magazine wouldn`t sell," Dixon told Cosmopolitan, reports thesun.co.uk.
"It made me angry because it shouldn`t be about the colour of the person`s skin, it should be about the person," added the singer, born to a British mother and a Jamaican father.
The rapper, upset about the fact that black women are still a minority on TV today, added: "There still aren`t many black women on primetime TV. Times are changing, but it`s interesting we`re in 2013 and still experiencing firsts.
"Hopefully, in the next 100 years things will balance even more. Britain is an amazing multicultural place to live in, and that should be celebrated and represented."
However, Dixon admits she never had a problem when she joined the judges` panel of "Strictly Come Dancing".
"When I joined the `Strictly Come Dancing` panel in 2009, the controller of the BBC came into my dressing room and said they were proud to have a woman of colour on their panel. It was so nice that they acknowledged it."
The 30-year-old admits she was aware of the prejudice since she was young.
"There were very few British black women on TV or in music when I was a teenager; when you`re growing up you need someone you can identify with. I remember at Christmas being bought a doll that didn`t look anything like me so I threw it away.
"When I saw Neneh Cherry singing on TV, I was so glad that there was someone of the same ethnicity - and with the same curly hair - for me to look up to," she added.
But she is now more comfortable in her "own skin".
"Since I turned 30, I`ve never felt better in my own skin. I feel positive about getting older. I don`t worry about the future because that will take care. I don`t carry around past baggage because what`s that going to do for me?
"We only have now. The fact that I`m still working in the industry now, ten years on, is something I`m so thankful for. There is no door you can`t open," she said.
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.