Ayn Bernos' clothing brand is transitioning to a non-government organization!
You may know Rousanne Marie "Ayn" Bernos, with over 1.3M TikTok followers, a hundred-seventy-something thousand on Instagram, a podcast called Camp Confidence Radio, and her Miss Universe Philippines stint, but did you know that she is also the founder of a clothing brand?
In a country obsessed with skin-whitening products, Ayn Bernos' T-shirt brand, 'Morena the Label' has been helping to empower and normalize Filipinos with brown or dark skin since 2018 with their statement shirts.
Morena The Label NGO
This year, Ayn is now ready to take her 'Morena the Label' to the next level by turning it into an NGO.
— Ayn Bernos (@aynbernos) January 18, 2023
"Moving forward, we will still release merchandise, but we'll do so not as a sole-prop business, but as an NGO. As we make that transition, we hope to have your support," said Bernos.
In her Twitter statement, the former beauty queen did not fail to mention all the goals her brand plans to achieve as an NGO, including the "funding of colorism research in the Philippines", production of written resources in colorism for teachers, as well as providing changes in the advertisement guidelines for whitening-product in the country.
Facilitating workshops in rural and coastal areas and collaborating with other NGOs by cultivating confidence and self-love among Filipinos are also part of the brand's aims as an NGO.
Ayn further stated that this "new era" her statement-clothing brand is entering is a "daunting change."
"It's a daunting change, but the mission remains strong and steady. Morena the Label is here to celebrate sun-kissed skin and challenge colorism."
Colorism in the Philippines
For the longest time, Colorism in the country has become a form of detrimental discrimination. The harmful belief that lighter skin is superior to darker skin perpetuates a biased mindset that has significant negative consequences for individuals and communities, particularly for those with darker skin tones.
Colorism created a hierarchical system that restricts opportunities for education, employment, and social mobility, as lighter skin is often associated with higher status and privilege. It is important to recognize and challenge colorism in order to promote equality and create a more inclusive society.
We can't wait for Morena The Label NGO!
