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Black Beauty

2024-12-03
Throughout history, Black people have experienced various forms of unfair treatment, with Black women's rights particularly under the spotlight. In today's society, the world is placing more emphasis on diversity, and the promotion of "beauty" and feminine charm is no longer dependent on skin color or race - anyone can become a representation and interpretation of "beauty". We are seeing more and more models and actors of different races appearing in advertisements and films, and Jemima Joy Gbadago's presence can also be seen in Hong Kong.

Joy is a Hong Kong-born Black model, theater actress, and photographer. Reflecting on her life that has been marked by the challenges of her race, she hopes to use her work to showcase the diverse concept of beauty, demonstrating that a black skin can also enjoy a colorful life.

Joy's father is from Nigeria and her mother is from the Philippines. They met while working in the catering industry in Hong Kong and initially planned to settle in the Philippines. However, after giving birth to Joy and her brother, they decided to seize the boundless business opportunities in Hong Kong and brought the family back, just as Joy was about to start kindergarten.

Joy's Nigerian father gave her African ancestry, a dark brown complexion, and a head of thick, curly hair. Looking back, she felt that her uniqueness made her not fit in with Hong Kong from a young age, and she experienced a lot of boycotts and bullying. Joy believes that although Hong Kong is known as an international metropolis, some local people have not yet broken through the barriers of skin color, so she constantly reminds herself to broaden her horizons. She decided to go to South Korea to study for a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry. On the university campus, she realized that she needed to take the initiative to bring about change and remove people's prejudices, so she returned to Hong Kong to pursue a Master's degree in Modern Asian Studies.

Although Joy's parents, influenced by the Asian culture of wanting their children to succeed, have always opposed her pursuing an artistic career, she believes that her photography, stage performances, or photographic works can showcase a kind of "beauty" that is beyond the stereotypical social framework. She wants to convey to the public that Black people are still striving to occupy a place on the stage of Hong Kong and the world.

While the global anti-discrimination movement has never ceased, Joy says that the status of the white community is still supreme, and she still feels that her own brown-black skin makes her inferior. Especially when she attends model or theater auditions, the cold treatment she sometimes receives can be suffocating. Therefore, she decided to pick up the camera herself, inviting a group of female friends of different races, ages, body shapes, and skin colors to different corners of Hong Kong, together showcasing this diverse "beauty". Outdoor enthusiast Joy hopes to use her lens to capture the scenery of Hong Kong, while also presenting the beauty of different models in the photos. Gradually, she has gained attention on social media and within the Black community. Recently, Joy has also actively participated in community activities related to women's and Black people's rights, such as cultural exchanges or teaching drama and African music in local schools, hoping to help Hong Kongers understand and accept different cultures and races.

The integration of diverse cultures and races is a key to Hong Kong's future development, and it requires the efforts and participation of everyone. Joy hopes to continue to inspire more people through her own story and works, to experience the diverse "beauty", to accept and understand different cultures and races, and to make Hong Kong more open and inclusive, achieving a harmonious society.

Hong Kong Stories: Connected with Hong Kong

Hong Kong is an international metropolitan city that blends new and old trends, merging Chinese and Western cultures. Its vibrant lifestyle, diverse communities, world-class infrastructure, and strong economic potential attract talent from around the world to seek opportunities and realize their dreams, some even settling down there.
The protagonists of this series "Hong Kong Stories" are these expatriates - they are both Hong Kong people and not Hong Kong people; they are talented individuals with various aspirations. They come from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Europe, Africa, and other places. The programme features personal profiles and interviews to understand how this group of people from different backgrounds excel in Hong Kong's open and diverse metropolis, while also contributing to the city.
They will share their Hong Kong stories, their impressions and feelings about Hong Kong, their adaptation process and experiences, personal anecdotes and tales, as well as why they like Hong Kong and their emotional connections to the city.
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