Beyoncé dropped “The Gift” soundtrack on Friday as “The Lion King” came out and each song is a ballad to the diaspora of Africa.
The album incorporated heavyweight talents of the music industry like Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z and African artist like Mr. Eazi, Shatta Wale, Burna Boy, Wizkid and more.
The project has multiple hits such as (Brown Skin Girl), a song in particular that struck an emotional chord with Black women.
“Brown Skin Girl,” has melenated girls everywhere feeling loved and adored. The song includes the voice of Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy, celebrating the multiple shades of dark skin.
The lyrics served as words of affirmation:
“Brown skin girl, your skin like pearls, the best thing in the world, never trade you for anybody else.”
Beyoncé calls out famous deeply hued beauties including Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell and longtime friend from Destiny Child co-singer, Kelly Rowland.
Her uplifting words led many women on social media to share pictures, videos and selfies of their stunning melanin to Twitter in the viral #brownskingirlchallenge.
Director Ava DuVernay celebrated the Twitter hashtag by sharing stills from her film projects, including “A Wrinkle in Time.” DuVernay’s work consistently features black women who still struggle with being represented on-screen in Hollywood.
“It’s always an honor to capture the beauty of brown-skinned girls,” she wrote.
The challenge attracted followers like Nyong’o, who was overjoyed by her mention.