Photo credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Lupita Nyong’o will be publishing a children’s book that tackles the controversial subject of skin lightening.

It’s a subject that’s very close to the Oscar-winning actress’s heart, as following years of childhood insecurity about the color of her skin, she has finally come to love and embrace it and its undeniable beauty.

“I am pleased to reveal that I have written a children’s book! It’s called “Sulwe”! Sulwe is a dark-skinned girl who goes on a starry-eyed adventure, and awakens with a reimagined sense of beauty,” she proudly wrote on Instagram.

“She encounters lessons that we learn as children and spend our lives unlearning. This is a story for little ones, but no matter the age I hope it serves as an inspiration for everyone to walk with joy in their own skin.”

We love how open Lupita has been in the past about her struggles, but even more so, we love the empowering way she has spoken about finally loving her skin – and the way in which she encourages other women of color to do so too…

“I remember a time when I too felt un-beautiful,” she previously said at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood event.

“I put on the TV and only saw pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin and my one prayer to God the miracle worker was that I would wake up lighter skinned.

“The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin, that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first.

“And every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I had been the day before.”

Keen to inspire other dark-skinned beauties – especially children and young girls – Lupita also shared a story about a letter she received from a young fan, who praised the actress for speaking out. She also added that Lupita was the reason that she had stopped lightening her skin.

“I hope that my presence on your screens and in magazines may lead you, young girl, on a similar journey,” Lupita said.

“That you will feel the validation of your external beauty, but also, get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside.

“That there is no shade in that beauty.”

It’s clear to see why the subject is so close to Lupita’s heart, and we think the children’s book is the perfect project for her.

The book is slated for release in January 2019. We have a whole year to wait, but in the meantime let’s all use Lupita’s powerful words to tide us over.