A woman born white but who now identifies as black after undergoing melanin injections is planning to relocate to Africa with her husband. Martina, who prefers to go by Malaika, says she has always felt a deep connection to the continent and its people, despite the backlash she’s faced.
At 36, Malaika has undergone a dramatic transformation, altering her skin tone through injections and undergoing several cosmetic procedures. However, her decision hasn’t come without controversy. Many critics accuse her of “blackface” and insist she will “never be black.” But Malaika remains undeterred and is determined to build a new life in Africa alongside her husband, Michael Groß, 38, reported the Mirror.
She revealed that the couple has received multiple invitations from fans in different African countries, making it difficult to choose where to settle. “Currently, we have Kenya and Namibia on our shortlist,” she shared. “My husband and I had already planned to emigrate a few years ago, but then the pandemic hit.”
However, Michael isn’t entirely convinced about the move, particularly due to Malaika’s career. “Since most of my modeling jobs are in Europe and the US, Michael fears it will be difficult for me to earn money in Africa,” she admitted. “I’ve had to work hard to convince him that this is the best decision for us.”
Malaika isn’t just changing her address; she’s also planning more cosmetic procedures before the big move. Already having undergone several lip augmentations, she now has plans for buttock augmentation and surgery to “widen her nose.”
“My husband and I are still working on the schedule. It’s especially important that I have my surgeries done here in Europe beforehand. Since I want my surgeries very extreme, I don’t know any surgeons in Africa who can do those,” she explained. “I am hoping that we can resolve the remaining issues soon and realise our dream of emigrating as soon as possible.”
Malaika first visited Nairobi in 2018 and claims she was recognised by some locals who even asked for selfies. Since then, she has visited Africa three times and insists she feels at home every time she’s there.
“I want to emigrate to Africa because I feel a deep connection to the African people,” she said. “The harsh criticism usually comes from the US via social media. People say things like ‘You’re white, you’ll never be Black’ or call my skin ‘Blackface’. But I don’t take these comments to heart. I assume that people who have negative attitudes toward me hold back when they meet me in person.”
She also shared that she never walks alone and is always accompanied by her husband. However, she insists that her experiences in Africa have been overwhelmingly positive.
“Once, as I got out of a taxi, a fan recognised me and a short time later, I was surrounded by a whole crowd of people wanting to take selfies with me and asking me many questions. I can’t wait to live there.”
