Cardi B Defends Her Success, Addresses Light-Skin Privilege: ‘Colorism Is Real’

Cardi B, the 34-year-old Bronx rapper, has spoken out about colorism while defending her rise to fame. In a lengthy statement on X, the rapper addressed Damona "Mona" Love of Don’t Call Me White Girl, who recently referenced a 2024 Instagram Live clip where Cardi discussed her heritage, colorism, and public perception with influencer Raymonte Cole.

Cardi B emphasized that she knows colorism is real but firmly asserts that her success is not solely due to her lighter skin tone. She recalls her struggles during her early career, stating that people saw her skin last, her teeth first, her acne, and her dusty braids. She challenged the notion that her light skin and Dominican heritage were the reasons she secured brand deals, pointing out that dark-skinned girls often face difficulties in the industry.

Love suggested that Cardi B's lighter complexion and Dominican heritage give her an advantage over dark-skinned artists, implying that a similarly talented dark-skinned artist would not have achieved the same level of success. In response, Cardi B highlighted her lack of a "traditional beauty standard" appearance, which led record labels to reject her initially. She also pointed out that they said no because she wasn't the kind of woman they wanted to see, emphasizing that she had to work hard to achieve her success.

The rapper pointed out that Love had previously reached out to her for advice on personal matters, surgery, and career opportunities, questioning why Love would revisit the 2024 livestream to make her comments. Cardi B defended herself by emphasizing that she is more than her speech, appearance, or the color of her skin, and she remains committed to proving herself beyond those aspects.