In many ways, the ad campaign for Jeffree Star Cosmetics' Androgyny eye shadow palette is revolutionary. A popular beauty brand featuring a drag queen (Adore Delano) AND a trans woman of color (Nikita Dragun) in its promotional images is a huge win for the LGBTQ community.
But many are claiming that there's something very, very wrong with this series of photos.
People are saying that in her solo campaign images, Nikita Dragun's skin tone is very dark.
Like, MUCH darker than usual.

On the left: the campaign image for Androgyny. On the right: Nikita in one of her YouTube videos.
Star and Delano's skin tones appear to remain the same throughout all of the images.
The difference is so dramatic that people on social media are calling it blackface.
Nikita dragun did blackface..cancelled ???? pic.twitter.com/LInPWMmxGr
— cydnee white ???? (@jiminsnegress) March 1, 2017
Nikita dragun did blackface. I cant trust NONE of these MUAs
— Angel of Color (@johanamamaa) March 1, 2017
Wow I'm the loving the new bronzers Jeffree!!!!!! What's shade is Nikita wearing? Blackface?? https://t.co/NwiMp3LQHV
— monet st. couch (@shialabluntt) March 1, 2017
Dragun says a spray tan — and her skin's natural tone — made her look darker in the images.
I'm half Mexican & half South East Asian and normally get extremely tan...let's not trip over a spray tan.
— Mama Dragun (@Nikita_Dragun) March 1, 2017
And fans have come to her defense...
Blackface theory debunked. *yawn* Next "scandal." @Nikita_Dragun pic.twitter.com/pKhuL19tE8
— Laruto (@Sage_Laruto) March 2, 2017
...noting that Dragun is a transgender woman of color — and that this criticism is undeserved.
@Nikita_Dragun @JeffreeStar pic.twitter.com/vh3p0gIHOR
— Princess K Hefner (@PrincessHefner) March 1, 2017
"It really breaks my heart seeing people treat Nikita like this. This woman has already had to and still deals with so much just being a transgendered [sic] woman and now you're coming at her because of her fucking skin tone?! This woman is an absolute ANGEL! Beautiful both inside and out and would NEVER be this disrespectful to anyone. Look at your damn self in the mirror and figure out why you're so bitter and stop trying to tear everyone else down!"
Star also came to her defense. He retweeted multiple messages in support of Dragun, and brushed off the blackface claims as mere internet hate.
People love reaching. It's disgusting. Leave Nikita alone and sit down https://t.co/F7goVtZqco
— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) March 1, 2017
But many people aren't buying it.
There's a difference between being naturally tan and making your skin darker for a photoshoot. @Nikita_Dragun @JeffreeStar This is Blackface pic.twitter.com/oTF3DTdlhT
— Regina George (@yoongogohive) March 1, 2017
So. @Nikita_Dragun this looks like a spray tan to you? The is straight up blackface. I don't care if you're a dog you're antiblack. pic.twitter.com/DQeNFkoBZk
— Notty ⚓️ (@simplynottyxx) March 1, 2017
Nikita is CANCELLED that's not your "average spray tan" that is BLACKFACE, and jeffree knows damn well he could've hired a model w dark skin
— bryn (@pastelbryn) March 2, 2017
The campaign was shot by photographer Marcelo Bantu, who is no stranger to controversy.

Bantu, one of Kylie Jenner's favorite artists, was the photographer at the center of last year's Kylie Cosmetics lawsuit scandal. Makeup artist Vlada Haggerty accused Kylizzle, and Bantu, of taking too much "inspiration" from her original work.
In fact, Bantu has been accused of using blackface in photo shoots before, too.

In this photoshoot with Kylie Jenner, Bantu used a blacklight to create this image, sparking outrage because Jenner's skin tone had been altered to appeared darker.
He uses these effects on white models quite frequently.
Star also has a history of making racist comments, particularly towards Black women.

Videos and screenshots from Star's old Myspace account surfaced last year, in which he uses racial slurs, and jokes about lightening a Black woman's skin with battery acid.
He has since apologized, but it has still caused many people to boycott his brand.
And it's Star's history that may be responsible for social media's intense response to the photos.
@Nikita_Dragun I mean.......you hang out with Jeffree Star, so I wouldn't be surprised if you WERE doing blackface, tbh.
— princess nokia (@abelsboo) March 1, 2017
Whether Dragun's appearance was caused by a spray tan, an intentional move by Star, or just a case of excess image editing is unknown.

Let us know your thoughts on our Eyeliner Addict Facebook page, and like us for more beauty news!
UPDATE: Nikita Dragun responded to the controversy in a statement to Seventeen.com.
It reads:
"It's very unfortunate that a section of the community is choosing to interpret and liken my image in Jeffree Star's campaign to blackface. The message of this campaign is intended to welcome all gender identities, sexualities, and races to enjoy the makeup line. Additionally, the creative design for the imagery called for high contrast between light and shadow, and low lighting, which lends itself to creating a mood for the imagery. This campaign is so exciting and so disruptive; I'm proud to be featured in it as a Transgender Woman of Mixed Race (my mother being Mexican and my father Vietnamese). I'm disappointed that anyone would choose to critique the creative design of this incredibly inclusive campaign, rather than celebrate the diversity in it."
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