#MAGANDANGMORENX

celebrating the diversity of Filipino beauty.

What Is #MagandangMorenx?

#MagandangMorenx, literally translated to “beautiful brown skin”, is a movement dedicated to challenging the traditionally enforced beauty standards within mainstream Filipino media and combating colorism within the culture. From whitening creams to an entertainment industry saturated with mestizas, the legacy of the 333 Spanish colonization of the Philippines can still be felt in this worship and desire for white skin.

Tan and brown-skinned Filipinos are made to feel insecure, ashamed, and embarrassed of the natural color of their skin despite being indigenous to a cluster of tropical islands in the southeast Pacific, where the geography and climate make brown skin the norm.

#MagandangMorenx was created in 2016 to empower, reclaim, & redefine what it means to be a Filipino & celebrate our diversity of color.

Watch the video below to learn more:

WHO & WHY

My name is Asia Jackson and I am a Black-Filipino actress and digital creative based in Los Angeles. I used to live and go to school in the Philippines and while I was there, I was bullied for having darker skin. This experience isn’t unique to me, however. My darker-skinned classmates and family were also discriminated against solely for the color of their skin.

Colorism is defined as “the prejudicial or preferential treatment of same-race people based solely on skin color”. Colorism permeates cultures all throughout Asia and is especially pernicious in countries that have been colonized by Europeans.

I created #MagandangMorenx in 2016 to combat colorism within our community and to celebrate the diversity of Filipino beauty. No one should be treated differently or lose access to opportunities solely because of the color of their skin. Colorism is an archaic system that must be dismantled.

My name is Asia Jackson and I think colorism must be dismantled.

“Colorism in the Filipino community has always been something I’m passionate about because it affected me so much. I was like, I can’t be the only one affected by this,” Jackson said. “It took me a very long time for me to love my color as it is, and I never want anyone to feel alone like I did. I created #MagandangMorenx to help open dialogue for an issue that, for some reason, everyone likes to ignore.”

— NBC News

impact & influence

#MagandangMorenx trended worldwide four times since its conception. Thousands of Filipinos from all over the world shared (and continue to share) their own stories and personal experiences with colorism in Filipino culture.

SPREADING AWARENESS

In October 2018, I was invited to attend and speak at the girls’ empowerment festival It’s A Girl Thing in Manila, Philippines. I spoke to 3,000+ teen attendees bringing awareness to colorism and how we can work to dismantle it. I filmed my experience speaking at this festival, which you can view down below!

In addition to speaking at It’s A Girl Thing Manila, I’ve also been invited to speak about colorism at universities such as Boston University, California State University at Fullerton and UC Berkeley. Through this platform, I’ve been able to connect with Filipino student associations all throughout the United States and was also invited to speak at UCLA’s Pilipinx Commencement Ceremony as the keynote speaker.

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recognition

I was acknowledged for my work with #MagandangMorenx at the SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino-Americans) 46th Annual Fundraising Gala and was awarded the Lakas (Strength) Award.