A Miss Universe Philippines candidate has been accused of ‘blackfishing’—but what is it?
The Laguna representative of Miss Universe Philippines 2022 has caught the ire of pageant vloggers amid allegations of "blackfishing."
21-year-old Shaira Aliyah Diaz from San Pablo, Laguna first caught the eye of pageant vlogger Davonna Finley, also known by her YouTube moniker The Sovereign.
In the vlog posted by The Sovereign on March 9, Diaz was initially accused of using a wig as her curly hair, but Delaney doubled down when she saw old photos of Diaz.
"I know weaves and stuff and I see straight hair. I'm a black girl, we know curly hair... This is all extensions," said Finley.
In a separate edited location, the vlogger then shared old shots showing Diaz with a lighter skin tone and straight hair compared to her recent photos.
"I wasn't even sure that these were the same people. I used a series of birthmarks and matched them up," she said. "In the United States, we have a name for something like this."
"From what I've heard from a number of people, not only are they surprised, some people are a little bit upset and I can admit I'm a little bit bothered," Delaney added. The video has since garnered 42,000 views.
"You decide how you feel about it, I have given you the information," Delaney concluded.
Meanwhile, this wouldn't be the first time that Diaz has received comments on her look. On her TikTok account (@thefilipinabarbie), the Laguna beauty has been brushing away comments alleging her of trying to look African-American.
In one video, she can be seen reading a similar comment while she simply looks at the camera and lip syncs to a lyric from the Meek Mill song, I B on Dat.
@thefilipinabarbie Reply to @user41940275 ♬ ill eagle - biggarbie
In a separate video, one user once again accused her and a friend of looking black, to which she replies with: "Full Filipinas and proud."
@thefilipinabarbie Reply to @w.aadx go cry about it jk @annmay2000 ♬ hamzah theme song - gotclouut edits 🧜🏽♀️
What is blackfishing?
Blackfishing is the term for non-African American personalities who choose to front African American features, such as darker skin tone and curly hair, to appear Black. It is similar to the term "catfishing" for when people pretend to be who they are not online.
Per Medical News Today, "Blackfishing is a type of interpersonal racism that can be harmful, even when a person does not have discriminatory or harmful intention. This form of racism depicts Black people as stereotypes and portrays Black culture as a product."
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to Diaz for comment.
