In this episode, Tšhegofatšo Ndabane and Sinothile Kubu join Sena and Stacy for a candid talk on the politics of beauty and how it shapes the experiences of Black women. Tšhegofatšo shares her research on how young Black women perceive themselves, the deep influence of racism, and how beauty standards continue to be shaped by colonial narratives. Sinothile opens up about her personal journey toward embracing authenticity, the challenges of unlearning internalised biases, and how she navigates the pressures of motherhood while resisting the impulse to police her daughter’s appearance.

Together, they dive into the intergenerational trauma of beauty standards, the complex process of unlearning, and the radical act of black women reclaiming femininity on their own terms.

Chapters:

0:00-07:14 Intros and red nails 

07:15-12:42 Beauty is skin deep 

12:43-18:39 Constructs of black beauty 

18:40-32:48 Our mothers and policing bodies

32:50-38:44 Hyper-sexualisation of black women’s bodies

38:50-40:48 #blackgirlmagic #melaninpoppin 

41:00-44:00 Unlearning