LIFE GLO GLO

UK grime artist Cadet made the phrase, “melanin on glo glo” viral with his hit song “Ooouuu” but we at Atypical have put a pin on it and bring to you “EVERYTHING ON GLO GLO”. Definition? Phrase used to describe and elevate the rising confidence in the swag and conduct of young people that rejects negativity and coercion to change.

Tanning and bleaching have become so common that even Vybz Kartel constantly laces his lyrics with references to how girls love his bleached skin. Shame of our natural state and desire to find ways to change it has become normal. However, it cannot be denied that there are gradual and permanent changes being made to this mentality-damaging perception and the young people of today are pioneering this revolution and this is a massive achievement. Over the last three to four years, despite global matters inflicting a hindrance on the growth and concurrence of different ethnicities, the clout and influence of social media has had a positive impact on this movement. Rather than our skin being used as a device to isolate and tyrannize, it’s being made into such a beautiful work of art. Girls are becoming more confident in themselves unafraid to leave their houses without makeup, men are accepting their builds and any changes that one wants to make are simply to enhance what is already there rather than create a complete change and this deserves to be marked.

Fashion has become a language of expression whereby many young people are able to show who they really are. Whether it through a man wearing baby pink dungarees or a beautiful black girl shaving her head and dying it blonde or a confident white girl using her face as a canvas and creating the most awesome makeup looks, young people are adopting attitudes reminiscent of the 80s and 90s and yes, we’re clocking on.

Self-assurance amongst the youth of today has not only had a positive impact internally but also externally. We have met numerous young people between the ages of 16 and 30 with their own businesses and many accredit this leap of faith to watching other young people take their futures by the balls and run with it.

On a greater more public scale, undervalued and often overseen brands such as LA Girl Cosmetics and Becca have become increasingly popular as they have made more of a provision for darker skin tones – something that has always being an issue within the industry. Consequently, make up bloggers have found a source of inspiration and have been able to do more with their channels. As a result, bigger brands have had pressure applied on them to expand their range and create more shades for darker tones.

There are numerous youth figures such as Sandra Lambeck, Bretman Rock and Denzel Dion who don’t allow their skin form a wall between them and their success. They’re taking the dreams by the horns and relentlessly pushing themselves until they achieve over and beyond, oozing with confidence,

Daring and audacious blogger, Habiba da Silva recently announced the release of her Hijab collection aptly entitled: SKIN.

Her ensemble includes series of skin tone-coloured scarves very appropriately representing and acknowledging the different kinds of skin tones. Her collection, through its campaigning and advertisements very cleverly emphasis that regardless of one’s skin colour, beauty is not limited to one. Expanding over the whole human race, no one is excluded from the definition of beauty and there is a quality within us all that makes us GLO. Together, we can exist. Together, we can love. Together, in our differences, we are one.