Msmagazine iconMsmagazineAug 5, 2026

What a “Black Helen of Troy” Reveals About Hollywood and Mythmaking

The conversations over a Black actor like Lupita Nyong'o portraying the iconic Helen of Troy, "the most beautiful woman in the world", reveal a broader discomfort with depictions of dark-skinned Black beauty in Hollywood.

What a “Black Helen of Troy” Reveals About Hollywood and Mythmaking

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The conversations over a Black actor like Lupita Nyong'o portraying the iconic Helen of Troy, "the most beautiful woman in the world", reveal a broader discomfort with depictions of dark-skinned Black...

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The conversations over a Black actor like Lupita Nyong'o portraying the iconic Helen of Troy, "the most beautiful woman in the world", reveal a broader discomfort with depictions of dark-skinned Black beauty in Hollywood.

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