TikToker Imo Unusual: Calling a black woman ‘black beauty’ is a backhanded compliment
By Paulette Mboga, September 26, 2026TikToker Imo Unusual has said she does not consider being called “black beauty” a compliment.
She questioned why people feel the need to mention a woman’s skin colour when praising her beauty, saying the phrase comes across differently to her.
Imo said she had addressed the issue before but wanted to make her position clear again. She explained that while she understands the phrase is meant to praise black beauty, she does not see it as a compliment.
“I have said this before, and I will say it again. I don’t think telling somebody black beauty, oh, black is beautiful, I don’t think that is a compliment, guys,” Imo Unusual said on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The TikToker said she considers the phrase a backhanded compliment rather than a straightforward comment about someone’s appearance. She made it clear that she does not want people using the term when referring to her on TikTok.
“I think that is a backhanded compliment, and this is the last time I am saying it,” Imo Unusual said.
Imo questions the focus on skin colour
Imo questioned why people add skin colour when complimenting black women. She compared the phrase to other descriptions and said she does not see people using similar colour-based terms when complimenting white or light-skinned people.
“If you come to my TikTok to me and tell me black beauty, I am going to block you,” Imo Unusual said.
She explained that her issue was with the decision to add the word “black” to the compliment. According to Imo, people can simply describe someone as beautiful without making their skin colour part of the compliment.
“You guys never tell people, ohh you are white beauty, ohh light beauty,” Imo Unusual said.
The TikToker then questioned why the colour factor was considered necessary when speaking about a black woman’s appearance. She said the same approach was not commonly used with descriptions such as white beauty or light beauty.
“So where do you guys find it necessary to add the colour factor like black beauty to a black woman?” Imo Unusual said.
Imo’s comments centred on how people describe black women and the language used when praising their appearance. She said the phrase “black beauty” does not feel like a compliment to her, despite the words being used to describe beauty.
She also made it clear that she has discussed the matter before and considers her latest statement a final explanation of her position.