Pakistani actress and model Benita David has revealed that she underwent skin whitening treatment in 2017 due to pressure from the entertainment industry’s beauty standards.
Speaking during a recent interview, the actress shared details about her personal life and career struggles, recalling how she decided to use whitening injections while working in a television drama.
Benita David said that at the time one of her dramas was on air in which she had an important role portraying a “beautiful girl,” adding that she felt the industry largely preferred fair-skinned actresses for lead characters.
“Our media industry works this way those with fair skin are considered more suitable for heroine roles,” she said.
The actress clarified that she did not originally have a very dark complexion, but gradually developed the perception that becoming fairer was necessary for success in showbiz.
She said she later contacted a doctor and began taking whitening injections in 2017. According to her, she received injections twice a week, each session costing around Rs7,000, followed by a maintenance injection every month.
Benita David stated that the treatment eventually made her complexion fairer, while also highlighting the pressure many women in the entertainment industry face regarding appearance and beauty standards.