Dark-skinned girls need love too — but what happens when they stop believing it will happen? On the latest episode of YouTube, “Pop Your Ballon or Find Love,” a young, stunning Black woman rejected herself from a potential match with a male contestant, not because of his words, but due to her assumptions. In a moment that is both honest and heartbreaking, she almost let self-rejection block her from finding her mate. Grab your tissues because this episode hits a little hard different.
Hosted by Arlette Amuli, the show is based on contestants who face a panel of singles, each holding a red balloon. During the elimination process, if a panelist hears or sees something they dislike, they pop their balloon to signal rejection. In a viral clip, a beautiful woman pops her balloon, but not for the usual reason like ‘he’s too short,’ or “he’s too old” or “I don’t like what he’s wearing.
The woman popped her balloon because she figured he’d reject her. But when the host asked if she was his type, the handsome Black man complimented her beautiful features, including his admiration for her dark complexion. “She’s my type,” he described. “Definitely like her skin tone. I like dark skin women. She’s beautiful.” To her surprise, the female panelist hadn’t expected to catch the contestant’s eye. “I didn’t think I was his type,” she admitted.
Amuli and everyone on set were baffled by the female contestant’s response to the compliment. Although other women in the panel pool could have captured his attention, the contestant continued reinforcing his attraction, praising “her gorgeous almond eyes” to her, easing her shock and uncertainty. “He’s attractive— I just didn’t think I was his type,” she admitted. Noticing the panelist had popped her balloon, Amuli soon recognized it wasn’t distrust, but insecurity. “Why are you eliminating yourself?,” Amuli asked, handing her a new balloon.
With confidence, both the male contestant and female panelist agreed it was a match.
The episode created waves of conversation about how societal nuances shape beauty expectations, particularly for dark-skinned women. This subgroup often faces stereotypes and biases in dating and potential romantic connections. Male artists frequently reference their preference for light-skinned or “exotic” women. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, music, television, and magazines celebrated fair-skinned women, while dark skin women were brushed over or given backhanded compliments. While her reaction was pure, it reveals how deeply ingrained the narrative that dark complexions are excluded from conventional beauty and desirability.
Social media share their thoughts: “That video of the darkskin lady in the green dress eliminating herself on pop the balloon makes me so sad,” an X commentor shared. “I’m so happy I spent the first portion of my adult life somewhere that my black features were celebrated. I couldn’t imagine acting like that at this age.”
Another X commenter posted, “She expected him to be into the light-skinned woman with the blonde wig. Given the images of black women that have saturated the culture for *decades*, I understand why. I’m glad he expressed his interest & she pushed past her insecurities.” Another X member responded, “I don’t think it was her insecurities but more of what she’s experienced with men and how they always choose the lighter, smaller women over dark-skinned women, even if she’s the prettiest in the room.”
Ultimately, this episode stood out as a powerful snapshot of the unspoken struggles that dark-skinned women face in their dating journeys while also serving as a beautiful reminder that attraction defies stereotypes.