I heard them say

Keila: Have you seen Abel ‘son? He is charcoal black like his father. To think Abel’s wife is light skinned, yet she failed to give little colour to the kid. I met her yesterday, she was carrying the baby, it was real funny, it was as if she was carrying a kango pot covered in soot.

Nicole, Tambudzai and Thandi all laugh hysterically at the descriptions being given by Keila.

Thandi: Yooh cousin, you remind me of Thoko’s daughter. The girl is a replica of her father, she is definitely my niece but the girl is ugly. She looks like a man, hayi, it’s a total disaster.

The girls laugh harder, Nicole’s eyes have even begun tearing.

Tambudzai: I just think that whole theory of an ugly man having to marry a beautiful wife so that they can make a beautiful baby does not work. Some people have stronger genes, you will be amazed giving birth to a Gonzalo. Imagine having a misfitting baby.

Nicole: You have a point, one can actually be mismatched with your baby, that’s a fact. You should see my sister and her babies, a total misfit. The babies are all light skinned and she is chocolate colored. You can never imagine how many times people mistake her for the kids’ nanny.

Keila: We should stay away from uglies. Imagine not being able to slay with your baby or even go for a photoshoot because you have an ugly baby.

Tambudzai: You will go everywhere with that baby wrapped in blankets, unable to show her to the world.

Then I wondered, if that’s actually a thing? If that’s actually an intellectual conversation? If that’s a reasonable concern? Or if it’s just an idle conversation by immature ladies?

What do you think of this conversation?

Societal Beauty Standards: what’s your take?