{blackbabes} Lupita Nyong'o grew up hearing that 'darker skin is not beautiful'

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Growing up in Kenya, Lupita Nyong'o got the message from the media that "dark skin is unacceptable."

"European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world, the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to success and love. Africa is no exception," the Oscar winner says in Glamour's December issue. "When I was in the second grade, one of my teachers said, 'Where are you going to find a husband? How are you going to find someone darker than you?' I was mortified."

"I remember seeing a commercial where a woman goes for an interview and doesn't get the job. Then she puts a cream on her face to lighten her skin, and she gets the job! This is the message: that dark skin is unacceptable," added Nyong'o, who this year became the face of beauty brand Lancome.

The "12 Years a Slave" breakout star says her family never shared that opinion, but, still, it was difficult to tune out the negativity.

"I definitely wasn't hearing this from my immediate family — my mother never said anything to that effect — but the voices from the television are usually much louder than the voices of your parents," said the 31-year-old, who has become a style icon since hitting the red carpet promoting her role in the 2013 film.

Going on to describe her family, Nyong'o says, "I come from a loving, supportive family, and my mother taught me that there are more valuable ways to achieve beauty than just through your external features. She was focused on compassion and respect, and those are the things that ended up translating to me as beauty. Beautiful people have many advantages, but so do friendly people … I think beauty is an expression of love."

In April, Nyong'o, who's slated for a role the upcoming movie "Star Wars: Episode VII," was named People magazine's Most Beautiful person.