Ballerina Misty Copeland goes viral after revealing she has to paint her pointe shoes with FOUNDATION – because companies don’t make any to match her skin tone
Misty Copeland has spoken candidly about how she has to dye her pointe shoes with foundation because she can’t find a shade that matches her skin tone.
The ballerina, who made history by becoming the first black woman to become a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, posted a message on TikTok about the situation.
The 41-year-old woman admitted that she has to apply foundation on her shoes because it is important for her health. “aesthetics” – “to create a long through line” from head to toe.
Despite her success in the industry, she admitted that not being able to “wear pointe shoes or ballet shoes in (her) color often made (her) feel excluded.”
Misty Copeland has spoken candidly about how she has to dye her pointe shoes with foundation because she can’t find a shade that matches her skin tone.
In the clip, which has now been viewed more than 16 million times, Misty began, “Ever since I started ballet, I’ve worn pointe shoes the color of my skin.”
Misty explained that dancers have “different methods,” but added, “I always go to the drugstore and find the cheapest brand.”
She then applies the product to the flats, mimicking the texture of satin, which the star says “really covers the entire shoe without any marks.”
The dancer continued: “I have ruined so many pillows, sofas and clothes because this foundation got all over them.
“It’s really tedious and time-consuming, especially the bands and elastic bands. I’m going to need a pair of pointe shoes in a couple of hours, so I’ll have to wear a couple of these a night.”
Reflecting on the situation, Misty said, “This is the reality for many black and brown dancers.
“There are companies that now make different shades, but that wasn’t always the case.”
She concluded by saying, “I do this because in ballet and aesthetics it is very important to create a long through line going from the tips of the toes to the head, and they should all be the same color.
The ballerina, who made history by becoming the first black woman to become a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, posted a message on TikTok about the situation.
Her video was quickly flooded with comments, and other social media users were inundated with praise.
“Being able to wear pointe shoes or ballet shoes in my color often made me feel excluded.”
Misty recently started her own petition on the matter, seeking to make ballet “more inclusive.”
Her video was quickly flooded with comments, and other social media users were inundated with praise.
One person wrote: “HOW IS THERE NOT A COMPANY THAT MAKES MISTY COPELAND POINTE SHOES IN THE CORRECT COLOR???”
A second person wrote: “The fact that companies don’t go out of their way to make shoes for Misty Copeland is crazy.”
“The fact that MISTY FUCKING COPELAND STILL has to tell us this after years of being a world ballet star. Disgusting. Do better,” a third person wrote.
“I remember being on winter guard in high school and having to paint my shoes. I was the only one who had to do it,” added a fellow ballet dancer.
Others commented and suggested she launch a pointe shoe brand herself.
One person wrote: “Seriously queen, start your own brand!”
“Girl, unless you start your own company and become the Fenty Beauty of ballet shoes,” another person humorously commented.
Misty recently started her own petition on the matter in an attempt to make ballet “more inclusive.”
Previously, Misty posted an informational video that answered the question: “Why are pointe shoes pink?”
She captioned the clip: “Apple’s pointe shoe emoji change represents a small but significant step toward inclusivity in the world of ballet and beyond.”
The clip let viewers know that “ballet originated in 15th-century Italy as an art form reserved for the white European elite.”
“In the 17th century, ballet flourished in France, reflecting the tastes of European aristocrats such as King Louis XIV, and it was then that the European pink ballet shoes were introduced, which created a seamless extension of the dancer’s leg.
“During the Romantic era of the 19th century, pointe shoes became the center of attention.
The color of the “pointe shoes” was intended to emphasize the elongated, continuous visual line of the ballerina, who was light-skinned at the time.
“This pink hue highlights the ballet’s Eurocentric origins, a reminder of an era when ballet was created primarily by and for white Europeans.”
The video further explains that “even though Black and brown people have been dancing ballet for generations,” there is still a lack of diversity in the industry.