Kenyan video model Aisha Saringe, popularly known as Miss Saringe, has spoken about the challenges she says dark-skinned women face in the entertainment industry.
During an appearance on the Over 1M Podcast, Saringe discussed colour-based beauty preferences, missed job opportunities and pressure to lighten her complexion.
Her remarks have renewed conversations about colourism and representation in Kenya’s music video and modelling industries.
Aisha Saringe Says Skin Tone Affects Opportunities
Saringe claimed that lighter-skinned women receive more opportunities in video modelling than their darker-skinned counterparts.
She estimated that approximately 80% of video modelling jobs favour light-skinned women. However, this figure reflects her personal assessment and has not been independently verified through industry-wide data.
According to Saringe, skin tone can influence casting decisions, leaving some dark-skinned models struggling to secure work despite their experience and talent.
Her account highlights concerns about whether appearance-based preferences can limit opportunities for models in an industry where visual presentation plays a significant role.
Saringe Discusses Pressure to Bleach
The model also spoke about skin-lightening practices among people in her social circles. She claimed that all her friends had bleached their skin, highlighting what she perceives as pressure to conform to particular beauty standards.
Saringe said she had chosen to retain her natural complexion rather than lighten her skin to meet those expectations. Her comments draw attention to the personal decisions women may face when they believe their appearance affects their professional prospects.
Skin-lightening products also carry potential health risks, depending on their ingredients and how people use them. Some products contain harmful substances that can damage the skin or cause wider health complications.
Bien’s Music Video Brings Renewed Attention
Saringe has recently attracted significant public attention after appearing as the female lead in Bien’s music video I’ll Be Okay.
The song was released on October 9, 2026, and features Saringe as the singer’s love interest. Her appearance introduced her to a wider audience and sparked conversations about her modelling career.
However, her experience in the industry predates the viral video. Reports indicate that she began working as a video model in 2020 and has featured in projects involving several Kenyan musicians. Her growing visibility has brought renewed interest in her work and the challenges she says she has experienced.
What Colourism Means for Entertainment
Colourism refers to unequal treatment based on skin tone, often involving preferences for lighter complexions. In entertainment, such preferences can influence casting, advertising, modelling and the portrayal of beauty.
When particular skin tones receive more visibility, other talented performers may feel excluded or pressured to change their appearance.
Saringe’s comments have brought these concerns into the spotlight. However, her estimate of job opportunities does not establish the scale of colourism across the entire industry.
Her account nevertheless raises questions about how casting decisions are made and whether models receive fair opportunities regardless of complexion.
A Conversation About Representation
Saringe’s experience has added to the wider discussion about beauty standards and inclusion in Kenyan entertainment.
Her decision to retain her natural complexion, as she described it, also highlights the importance of allowing women to make personal choices without feeling pressured by professional expectations.
As the conversation continues, her remarks invite industry stakeholders to consider how they select models and represent different skin tones in music videos and commercial productions.
