Ali Gul Pir, Roma Riaz and Naina Black discuss colourism on Nida Yasir’s show

KARACHI: Rapper and comedian Ali Gul Pir, former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Roma Riaz and actor Naina Black spoke about colourism during a recent appearance on Nida Yasir’s morning show, where they discussed how skin tone shapes social attitudes and personal experiences.

According to the discussion highlighted on the programme, the guests reflected on the way darker skin is often treated in society and how comments about complexion are normalised in everyday life. The conversation focused on the pressure many people face because of beauty standards tied to fair skin.

Ali Gul Pir said he had personally experienced colour-based remarks and spoke about how such comments are often made casually, even though they can be hurtful. He said these attitudes are deeply rooted and continue to affect people from a young age.

Roma Riaz also shared her perspective, saying that colourism remains common and that people with darker complexions are frequently judged unfairly. She spoke about the need to challenge these ideas and said confidence should not be linked to skin colour.

Naina Black discussed similar experiences and addressed the assumptions often made about appearance. She said people are too quick to attach value to complexion and that this mindset needs to change.

Discussion on social attitudes

The guests said colourism is not limited to the entertainment industry and exists across society. During the conversation, they pointed to the way family members, peers and wider social circles can reinforce harmful ideas about beauty and acceptability.

The programme also touched on the language used around complexion, with the participants noting that remarks presented as jokes or casual observations can leave a lasting impact. They stressed that such behaviour should not be dismissed as harmless.

Ali Gul Pir, Roma Riaz and Naina Black each underlined the importance of self-acceptance and said people should not be made to feel lesser because of their skin tone. The discussion framed colourism as a social issue that deserves open acknowledgement rather than silence.

Call for change

The conversation on Nida Yasir’s show centred on pushing back against long-standing beauty standards that favour lighter skin. The guests said these standards influence how people are treated and how they see themselves.

They urged greater awareness of the issue and emphasised that respect and opportunity should not depend on complexion. Their remarks added to a broader public conversation about representation, prejudice and the need to move away from colour-based bias.

The discussion focused on how colourism affects people in daily life and why comments about skin tone should not be normalised.

The appearance brought together voices from entertainment and sports to address a subject that continues to resonate widely, with the guests using the platform to speak about lived experience and the importance of changing social attitudes.