I’m quite excited about this little piece of exposure I received yesterday, which was both nerve-racking as well being terribly exciting. I just wanted to share because this might just be the first and only time I get to be on international TV! So please excuse the narcissism. I promise this will be short.
But yes, I and my little blog were featured in a news segment on NHK World – the international broadcasting arm of NHK, Japan’s broadcasting service, and I was told that it aired internationally on Friday July 26, 2013 at about 8pm Malaysian Time (+8GMT)! The downer of course, is that I have no access to this channel LOL! I have come across it on satellite TV when I stay in hotels, so I knew it existed but domestically, I have no access.
So knowing it was available online was another bonus! 😛 Basically, I was contacted on Friday morning by Ms. Noriko of NHK World, to seek my comments on the Kanebo whitening product recall. You may remember I posted about the Kanebo product discontinuation a week or two back. It started with a report of 39 cases but based on the NHK World news report, this number is now about 7000 which took me by surprise. I haven’t seen many reports about it from anywhere and during our interview, I was told there was a reported case in Taiwan as well. I was very surprised when I was asked to comment on it because I’m no authority now, am I? I’m just a blogger blogging about beauty! 😛
Anyway, I received the email on Friday morning and agreed to a Skype interview that afternoon, which was my very first time using Skype (Yes, I know its mind boggling) and I only just about made it thanks to Twitter help from Tine!
I originally thought all they wanted was a phone interview. I didn’t realise video was on the cards or that it would be broadcasted! *cringe* On a side note, perhaps my mobile doesn’t need changing after all. quality seems ok even for TV LOL! 😛
Surreal seeing my blog on telly!
We talked a bit about what’s happened with the Kanebo whitening product recall which is what the news report is about, and I was asked if whitening products were popular here in Malaysia and why I thought so. Quite stumped but I have had my theories about it for a while which I’d only aired to family and some close friends so I thought I’d put it out there.
This happened to be the blurb that they extracted *facepalm* So my halfbaked theory on why whitening products are popular in Asia or Malaysia are out there for the world to scorn. Ah, c’est la vie 😉
My theory is simply that being fair or having a light skintone has to do with historical and cultural beliefs of beauty here in Asia; that you are from a better social standing if you’re fair. Women of a higher socio-economic standing don’t have to go out and work the fields, or walk the streets. They can stay indoors and be transported places by covered vehicles. So, being fair has been equated to being beautiful, and subconsciously this has been passed down through the ages till now. And this is why whitening products are popular here in Asia.
So yeah, that’s what I say somewhere towards minute 1.24 of the clip which you can view at this link on NHK World. I can’t embed the video unfortunately so if any clever soul out there can help dig out the code, I’d appreciate it!
Its ok if you don’t agree with my views. We all will have our own 🙂
But that was me in the flesh in my office, my Friday casual makeup on (I actually wore a BB Cream because hey! It was Friday! And it was untouched up because I didn’t know I was going to be on TV *facepalm*) and really crappy overhead fluorescent lighting. If I ever make it on TV again to share more halfbaked theories, I do hope I get a proper makeover 😛
Thank you for letting me share my 5 seconds of fame, everyone.
xoxo
Paris B
Jennifer says
July 27, 2013 at 1:29 pmThumbs up! My favourite celebrity blogger on TV 😉
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:01 pmThank you Jennifer – you’re too kind 😀
Rin says
July 27, 2013 at 1:40 pmSo proud of you! NHK! Wow 😀
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:02 pmThank you Rin! <3
Isabel says
July 27, 2013 at 2:31 pmWhee! So happy for you! You look fabulous and so self-controlled. I’d never have guessed that you found it a “nerve-wrecking’ moment. And just for the record, I do fully agree with your theory about the preference for fairer skin in Asia. Congratulation, Paris!
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:03 pmThank you so much Isabel! I was a huge bundle of nerves so I think they extracted the bit that didn’t show it hehe… I was more worried that Skype would fail me coz it was my first time using it! 😀 Oh and its good to know others agree with my theory too 😉
Tine says
July 27, 2013 at 3:17 pmWoohoo! I’m out at the moment and haven’t had the chance to check out the video yet but good on you! Proud as punch to even be able to help you Skype 😛
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:03 pmThank you Tine and yes! Without your help, I might have had to call it off and what a disaster that would have been eh? 😀
sesame says
July 27, 2013 at 3:42 pmYou’re a natural! And what you said definitely make sense. A whiter skin tone is always equated to superiority, even if it may not be true.
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:04 pmThank you Sesame 😀 I agree, it isn’t always true but the lighter the skintone, the more superior people perceive a person to be which can be very disconcerting!
Jenn says
July 27, 2013 at 7:09 pmWhoots! 😀 Congratulations PB! The world deserves to know what an amazing blogger you are (oh yes you are thats why they featured you! 😉 )!! 😀
“If I ever make it on TV again to share more halfbaked theories, I do hope I get a proper makeover” – hahahaha you’re always so funny! 😀 Don’t think what you said was half cooked though – its makes alot of sense to me! 😀
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:08 pmAww *blush* you’re far too kind, Jenn! 😀 If I ever do get on TV again, I sure do hope I get a makeover you know, so I know I won’t shine bright like a beacon LOL!
espenine says
July 27, 2013 at 10:17 pmOh Paris oh Paris, I saw you on NHK World and I live in the Middle East! I was a little surprised to see you on my tv so I did a little squeal, “Oh I know her!” and my SO gave me a are-you-alright look, hahaha. 🙂
You and your blog has gone international! *thumbs up*
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:10 pmOMG! You actually caught the feature!! Thanks so much for letting me know 😀 😀 I’m just as excited here haha!
lisa says
July 28, 2013 at 12:49 amyay! You did great. None of the nerve wrecking bit showed up. 🙂
Perhaps you should consider doing some video blogging after all. 😉
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:14 pmHaha thank you so much Lisa! 😀 I honestly don’t think I could video blog. I’d be the sort who sits and drones on woodenly, not the animated sort who can do makeup and talk and be funny all at the same time LOL!
Tracy@Beauty Reflections says
July 28, 2013 at 1:30 amCONGRATS Paris!!! That’s amazing!!!!
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:16 pmThank you Tracy!! <3
Yishan says
July 28, 2013 at 8:07 amJust watched the clip!!! I agree with Lisa, you did just great!! So proud of you!!
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:19 pmThank you so much Yishan!! 😀
Jacqueline says
July 28, 2013 at 10:19 amCongratulations Paris, it must have been a proud moment for you. Now I know what you sound like 🙂
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:23 pmThank you Jacqueline! Haha and yes, that’s me and my voice. I wonder if that was what you were expecting? Hehe…
Rahainah says
July 28, 2013 at 10:36 amWohoo! Congrates I’m so proud of you 😀
You really deserve the airtime cos I think you’re an honest, good beauty blogger.
And you look flawless!!
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:24 pmThank you so much Rahainah and you are far too kind! Appreciate all the support this while 😀 I have to thank my mobile’s camera then for making me look amazing hehe… 😀
Beauty Box says
July 28, 2013 at 12:04 pmCongrads on appearing on NHK! Well done 🙂 I actually think that it’s a commonly held opinion about why Asian women like to be fair so I would think many folks would agree with you. I didn’t comment on the Kanebo post you wrote since I’m not familiar with their whitening products, but I thought it was very interesting and I am shocked there has been 7000 complaints so far. I am a bit wary of whitening products and prefer to use them sparingly to reduce pigmentation – I would use them as a spot treatment, rather than all over the face.
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:34 pmThank you Yu Ming! I’m terribly chuffed as you can tell hehe… But yes, I was very surprised when I heard the 7000 figure. I guess it is even more widespread than many initially thought, which could be cause for concern. But I think their actions in stopping production and recalling the products is a positive move.
LeGeeque says
July 28, 2013 at 1:21 pmMy friend is femes! 😀 😀 😀 Well done you! 😀 😀 😀
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:36 pmThank you!! <3
gio says
July 28, 2013 at 1:30 pmWow! That’s fab! Congratulations!
Paris B says
July 28, 2013 at 7:37 pmThank you Gio! 🙂
Lucy says
July 28, 2013 at 7:57 pmI just watched it ! Congrats Paris. I totally agreed with what you said. I have slightly tanned skin tone , between NC 20 and 25 on MAC shades. My daughter , on the other hand, has a very much fairer skin than me, and she’s just only 2.5 yrs old ( she got it from her daddy’ side ). No matter how many often she goes out and plays under the sun, she just never gets any tan , and I always tell her how lucky she is , won’t need any whitening product at all hahaha..
Lucy
Paris B says
July 29, 2013 at 4:26 pmThank you Lucy and it’s lovely hearing from you! 😀 Your daughter sure is lucky! Gets to save a mint on whitening products in future haha! Just be sure she picks up the habit of wearing sunscreen because from experience I can tell you that fair skinned people develop pigmentation/freckle very easily!
PeiQing says
July 28, 2013 at 11:18 pmI cannot see the video in your link – I can only hear the voices. I am hearing your voice for the first time and it’s not what I imagine but it’s surprisingly good. It sounds like a professional. Hee!
Paris B says
July 29, 2013 at 4:28 pmEeps! I’m not sure why that’s so but thank you for watching anyway PeiQing 😀 Haha were you expecting something a little erm… girlier? hehe… I’ve been told my voice does surprise some people 😉
Efrain says
July 28, 2013 at 11:37 pmWow Paris I don’t know what you are saying you don’t look good on TV, I think you look really good (starts to think how you would look with a complete makeup).
Congratulations 😉
Paris B says
July 29, 2013 at 4:28 pmAww thank you so much Efrain and you are much too kind! 😀 On the bright side, I look natural, not overly made up eh? haha…
Efrain says
July 31, 2013 at 9:17 amI’m not kind, I’m honest; I really think you look good and you said it natural.
Sofia says
July 29, 2013 at 12:13 amNarcissism definitely pardoned, as this is very exciting indeed! xx
Paris B says
July 29, 2013 at 4:29 pmHaha thank you Sofia! 😀
Mari says
July 29, 2013 at 4:24 amCongrats, girl! You deserve all the fame! One day I hope to see you on national TV as well! 😉
Paris B says
July 29, 2013 at 4:31 pmThank you so much Mari! 😀 The day I show up on Brazilian TV, I’ll consider myself made! 😉