‘Black Barbie’ turns heads with stunning skin tone

It is impossible to travel along Barry Street in downtown Kingston and not take a second glance at a roadside hairdresser who bears a strong resemblance to a black human-sized Barbie doll. Marian 'Blackie' Nugent said that she has grown accustomed to the frequent admiration from passers-by and her many clients.

Wearing black bob hairstyle, she skilfully applies a coat of bright red lipstick and gives THE WEEKEND STAR team a welcoming smile exposing perfectly white teeth.

She stated that she is the calender girl for Black History Month. The 45-year-old, who could easily pass for someone in their late 20s, said she has been mistaken for a mannequin several times.

"Some people touch mi and ask mi if mi real. One time I was in a store and I was looking at a suit of clothes intently and a little girl come and touch mi thinking I was a mannequin and when mi move she bawl out to her mother and say 'Mommy, it move!' and we all start laughing. More time, people just stop to take pictures of and with me. A lady drew a portrait of me and sold it at a gallery," she laughed.

As she is being interviewed, several male admirers, including a set of policemen, smiled in her direction. Nugent's place of work is located close to several wholesales that sell bleaching products, but Nugent said she is never tempted to alter her skin colour.

"I am proud of the skin I am in. I have never and will never rub any bleaching cream on me. Mi just bathe and take care a mi self. Mi nuh eat oily food and I drink lots of water and mi nuh put problems on my head. Mi not even take out loans because mi nuh want nothing stress mi," she said. Nugent said her complexion and radiant beauty have even inspired others to stop lightening their skin.

'Dash Way Dem Bleaching Cream'

"People tell mi say dem hear bout mi and when dem finally come see mi, dem dash way dem bleaching cream. More time, a lot of browning pass and say 'yuh pretty ehh' and mi say 'thank you'. People approach me and say I should do modelling but I just love doing hair ya man," she said. "Mi still a do modelling still cuz people pass and see mi. The only difference is because mi nuh deh pon di strip. When people just start call mi Blackie, dem used to say mi mustn't answer but I am proud to be called that name. Right now, a lot of people a town a call demself Blackie."

She stated that she has never been bullied for her facial features and complexion and stresses that black women should walk with their heads held high as they are eye-catchers.

"Mi is a gift from God and mi appreciate myself. God has been good to me. Him just use mi to let others know that black is indeed beautiful. Every black woman is a queen, every black woman is a beauty," she said.