A beauty blogger who has won legions of fans for her honest posts about her struggles with acne was left ‘humiliated’ after being dropped by L’Oréal because of her skin issues.
Kadeeja Khan, 21, from Birmingham was approached to be involved with a trip to Paris for the launch of a new vegan hair dye range, but then received an email saying: ‘L’Oréal can’t be working with people with skin issues.’
‘After I’d already got my hopes up I was completely let down and insulted by their reason for not wanting to work with me,’ Kadeeja told The Sun.
‘It just shows that L’Oreal only want to work with people with perfect skin, but that isn’t real.
‘I know internet trolls will say horrible things to me, but to have that confirmed by an international brand has made me feel like there isn’t any space for people like me online.’
A spokesperson for L’Oréal apologised and said that a modelling agency had accidentally cast multiple bloggers with skin issues for the hair colour launch, and once the mistake was realised, it was ‘poorly and insensitively communicated’ to people.
Kadeeja Khan, 21, from Birmingham was left feeling ‘humiliated’ after she was rejected for a L’Oréal shoot because of her skin issues
The blogger had been asked to take part in a shoot for the launch of a vegan hair dye in Paris, but then receive this message
Kadeeja admitted that receiving the email dropping her from the shoot had left her ‘in a dark place’
MailOnline has contacted L’Oréal for further comment.
Kadeeja shared an email from the brand with her 128,000 followers expressing how hurt she felt by the wording.
‘To think we’re supposed to live in an advanced society that not only ACCEPTS of ALL walks of life but actually embraces people of all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities and disabilities,’ she said. ‘Shame on you L’Oréal.’
In a later post, she explained that the blunder had put her ‘in a dark place’.
‘I’ve come on this platform to show everyone who I am and what I’m about,’ she said.
‘I’m trying my best to shine the light on the things that matter. Show everyone that “yes you don’t have to be perfect! Love yourself regardless”.
‘I’m already use to trolls trying & bring me down.
‘But coming from a global international brand? Really hurt.
‘It honestly made me feel like their really isn’t any room in the industry for people like me.
‘It made me feel that “your worth it” ONLY if your perfect.’
The blogger who has 128,000 followers on Instagram is known for her candid posts about her struggles with acne
Kadeeja said she was used to comments from internet trolls but was hurt at being dropped by an international brand because of her skin issues
However, she said that it had made her even more determined to carry on posting her honest selfies.
‘That has given me fuel,’ she said. ‘Fuel to continue to show you that you’re beautiful no matter what ANYONE says.
‘That even if it’s someone so huge & big. It still means NOTHING. Never stop loving yourself for who you are & NEVER change.’