Nadiya Hussain recalls being told ‘black hands don’t sell jewellery’ during modelling interview

‘I never really thought about my hands, till the colour of the skin that covered them stopped me from getting a job,’ celebrity chef states

Nadiya Hussain on Instagram (Instagram/@nadiyajhussain)

Nadiya Hussain has recalled being told that “black hands don’t sell jewellery” when applying for a hand modelling job.

Earlier this month, the celebrity chef shared a post on Instagram stating that she had experienced more racism in the past five years than she ever has before.

In a new post shared on the social media platform, Hussain recollected a time in her teenage years when she experienced racism while applying for a modelling job.

In the caption, the 2015 Great British Bake Off winner said that she responded to an advertisement in the newspaper that stated that a company was in need of a hand model to sell jewellery.

“I called. Made an appointment. No previous experience required. I had hands, I needed the money, so figured it was a no brainer! It was a sure thin, I was counting my pennies before I had even got the gig...” the 35-year-old said.

However, when she walked into an area ”filled with white faces and white hands”, the room “went quiet”, she remembered.

“The receptionist stumbled. I sat down while she called someone in. I was met by a woman who came and greeted me. I figured it was my turn to show off my hands. She said, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t know you were black.’”

In response, Hussain told the woman: “Yes, right but the ad wanted hands, I have hands,” to which she replied: “Black hands don’t sell jewellery.”

“That was her response. The blood rushed to my face. I was so embarrassed, I was now a deep shade of burgundy,” Hussain wrote.

“I never really thought about my hands, till the colour of the skin that covered them stopped me from getting a job.”

The author explained that when you are a teenager who is “already a little lost” that “words like this stick”.

“Fast forward to my 30s and now my hands are in my cookbooks and in cookery shows, even now I look at them and still I have a seed of doubt embedded telling me that people must be disgusted by the sight of my brown hands,” she said.

“But as you can see from my second picture, you know how I feel about it now. I use my hands with pride and allow them to grace cookbooks and cookery shows, to hold my children’s hands and stroke their little faces, to cook, to feed... to hold!”

The first picture Hussain shared on Instagram shows her displaying the back of her hands. In the second image, she is putting both her middle fingers up to the camera.

The celebrity chef stated that she has since worked with Swarovski, adding that she experienced “anxiety at the thought of showcasing my hands” when collaborating with the brand.

“We need to start representing with our voices, with our eyes, with our thoughts, with our hearts and with our hands!” she said.

Several Instagram users praised Hussain for her impactful message.

“Such a strong message, so beautifully represented!!! You are an inspiration Nadiya,” commented 2018 Great British Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal.

“The second photo should be your profile photo,” remarked 2012 Masterchef winner Shelina Permalloo.