Being a biracial woman, Aisha Dee of "The Bold Type" fame felt like a black sheep as she grew up on the Gold Coast of Australia. Here is how horrible it was for her to grow up in a place where, according to her, there was no diversity.
To Aisha Dee, Australia's Gold Coast was an ideal and special place to grow up. She still remembers the time when she felt like it was the heyday of Movie World and Dreamworld.
But sadly, it was also the place where she always felt like an outcast. She grew up in white, conservative spaces in the 90s and although she has fond memories of her childhood, there are unpleasant memories that have been forever etched on her mind.
Aisha Dee in an episode of "The Bold Type" circa February 2020. | Source: Getty Images
On July 16, 2020, Dee took to Instagram to share a pretty candid post about how she felt out of place during her childhood because of her skin color and the texture of her natural hair.
Even the act as simple as walking would invite attention to Dee's direction. People would stop talking when she walked in. It was a terrible experience for a young Dee who thought she was like a black sheep.
There were some bitter trolls who would mock the texture of her hair and said derogatory things about her skin right on her face, too. People would also ask the actress if Snoop Dogg was her uncle. She always said yes, even though he is not.
Having started acting at the age of 14, Dee felt like she never got the opportunities her peers were getting in Australia.
Dee once admitted that she felt self-conscious about her own blackness. She felt torn between embracing her Black roots while still accepting and owning the other side of her that is white.
Growing up biracial, she was accused of "acting white" by her black peers. Her father's side of the family did not get along with her mother so she never developed a good relationship with them. Hence, the feeling of alienation was compounded every day.
According to Dee, she spent much time searching for anything that would make her feel like she belonged, and luckily, she found it in the arts. The characters in the movies and TV shows would make her feel less alone. She also talked about how "The Bold Type" gave her a self-esteem boost. She wrote:
"It pushed me to be better in both my professional and personal life, and it blessed me with two women I now consider to be an extension of my family..."
She went on to explain how the show represents the women of color and empowers them. Having started acting at the age of 14, Dee felt like she never got the opportunities her peers were getting in Australia.
In "The Bold Type," her character Kat is driven by a strong sense of justice. The show which follows the story of three young women trying to make it in the magazine industry is an exploration of life as a young millennial woman.
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