Alexandra Burke broke down in tears as she recalled how she was once told to ‘bleach her skin’ in order to ‘sell records’.
Talking to Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock on her powerful BBC documentary Race, Pop And Power, which was released on Thursday, the singer, 32, lamented how ‘f**ked up’ the music industry can be.
Alexandra said that she was also once told when she was aged just 15 by a management company, who she wished to keep anonymous: ‘We’ve got one black person, we can’t have another.’
Emotional: Alexandra Burke broke down in tears as she recalled how she was once told to ‘bleach her skin’ in order to ‘sell records’
Talking about racism within the music industry, the star said: ‘It’s very British though, we’re taught not to talk about it. It’s a very taboo subject.
‘People are afraid to admit that they have done something that is considered racist. They may not have meant it. Like I know there’s not all bad in people, I really believe that everyone has got good in them.’
Recalling her own past experiences in the music industry, Alexandra continued: ‘Like I remember when my mum used to take me to certain management companies… I won’t name them now because they’re still friends and that’s good, and it’s all love.
‘But when I was 15, they told me and said: “We’ve got one black person, we can’t have another.” And I got that a couple of times.’
Powerful: Talking to Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock on her powerful BBC documentary Race, Pop And Power, which was released on Thursday, the singer, 32, pictured, lamented how ‘f**ked up’ the music industry can be
Alexandra emotionally added: ‘One thing that actually comes to my head right now… is being told to bleach my skin. Being told that I’m “too dark” to be in the industry.’
The star then started to cry as she continued: ‘I’m going cold talking about it because I really actually don’t like talking about it.’
Recalling what she was once told, Alexandra said: ‘”You need to bleach your skin because you won’t sell any records.”‘
She added: ‘That’s what is so f**ked up about this industry and that is what makes me feel, at times, where I go: “I don’t want to be in this industry.”‘
Awful: Alexandra said that she was also once told when she was aged just 15 by a management company, who she wished to keep anonymous: ‘We’ve got one black person, we can’t have another.’
Breaking down in tears again, Alexandra emotionally continued: ‘They took my confidence away so much that I couldn’t be me.’
During the powerful BBC documentary, Little Mix star Leigh-Anne shares her own experience with racism.
The singer, who filmed Race, Pop And Power over the past year, said she felt like the ‘token black girl’ in the band and that her colour was being used ‘to define my image within the group’.
The songstress propelled to fame when she starred on the 2011 series of The X Factor with Jesy Nelson, who has since left, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards, with Little Mix going on to be crowned winners.
Important documentary: During the powerful BBC documentary, Little Mix star Leigh-Anne, pictured, shares her own experience with racism
Later in the documentary, Leigh-Anne battled to have a meeting with her record label Sony to talk about the lack of diversity in the industry.
And, after being knocked back a few times, felt encouraged when they agreed to bring in more people of colour to work with Little Mix.
The songstress has launched a foundation to fund internships and mentor schemes for black people of all ages entering the creative industries.
She said: ‘I don’t want the next girl in pop to feel like how I’ve felt. This is just the beginning. I’m a fighter.’
Opening up: It comes after Alexandra revealed over the summer that she was told to bleach her skin after she won The X Factor in 2008
It comes after Alexandra revealed over the summer that she was told to bleach her skin after she won The X Factor in 2008.
The musician spoke in a candid Instagram video and said she was told she would have to work ‘ten times harder than a white artist’.
She also delved into the ‘microagressions’ she experienced from various music labels throughout her career and how she has struggled.
Alexandra explained that she was ordered to ‘smile more on Instagram because you come across as aggressive’.
The star, who was visibly shaken, explained: ‘The music industry is such a funny little place. I love signing, I love what I do but if it wasn’t for the love that I have for music I definitely wouldn’t be in this industry.
Candid: The musician opened up in a candid Instagram video and said she was told she would have to work ‘ten times harder than a white artist’ (pictured on The X Factor, left, in 2008)
‘A few reasons are, when I won the X Factor I was told, “Right, because you are black, you are going to have to work ten times harder than a white artist, because of the colour of your skin…
‘You can’t have braids, you can’t have an afro, you can’t have anything that basically is my identity, you have to have hair, for example, that appeals to white people so they can understand you better.”
‘That was so hard to digest. I was told to bleach my skin and that was something I refused to do.’
MailOnline contacted X Factor representatives for comment at the time.
She said: ‘When I won the X Factor I was told, ”Right, because you are black, you are going to have to work ten times harder than a white artist, because of the colour of your skin” (pictured winning The X Factor in 2008 with mentor Cheryl)
Alexandra did not specify who gave her the instructions or made the comments, nor when they were made in the wake of her victory.
The star shared the emotional 15-minute video on Instagram and wrote: ‘Speak Up – Speak Out.
‘I felt it was time to speak up… This is a scary moment for me. I didn’t always want to speak up… but it is the right thing to do. So, here’s my truth, the positive and the emotional.
‘Side note: When I talk about ‘not seeing colour’ I’m not referring to the idea of being blind to skin colour, I’m talking about the notion within the music industry and institutionally that whiter is better.
‘Why does an industry that should be focused on vocal ability spend so much time dictating an artist’s worth on their colour?’
Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now and will air on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday night.
Being honest: Alexandra shared the emotional 15-minute video on Instagram and wrote: ‘Speak Up – Speak Out’