Popular Influencer's Unrecognizable Transformation Triggers Divided Reactions

Influencer Nikita Dragun, who has 8.2M, 14M, and 3.39 followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, respectively, is triggering divided reactions due to her new styling.

Nikita, who is half-Mexican and half-Vietnamese, has been accused of Blackfishing in the past. “Blackfishing” is the act of a non-Black person attempting to appear Black or racially ambiguous. This can include darkening one’s skin, appropriating Black hairstyles, etc.

Nikita Dragun is really trying to blame Jeffree Star for her blackfishing even though she has posted on her own social media doing it multiple times. 💀 https://t.co/ZzoQvHf4D3 pic.twitter.com/iyXT4rYpY5

— tea sesh (@TeaSeshYT) October 4, 2020

Now, her latest styling has shocked netizens even more. A TikTok user shared a video reacting to Nikita’s “unrecognizable” appearance, which went viral with 3.4M views at the time of writing.

@brookedidit00

I would NEVER have guessed 😭 #nikitadragun #influencer #makeupinfluencer #shocking

♬ Mysterious and sad BGM(1120058) – S and N

Netizens shared their reactions in the comment section. Many confessed they initially thought the person in the video was a K-Pop idol, not Nikita.

Nikita recently traveled to South Korea. Since then, she has had a makeover and experimented with Korean makeup.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikita Dragun (@nikitadragun)

Many of her followers have been supportive, saying it’s her best look yet. Some also commend her for “embracing” her Asian side.

Still, many can’t ignore that Nikita is notably lighter than she has ever been, triggering speculations regarding skin-lightening. Many netizens feel Nikita has now “whitewashed” herself and is yet again attempting to be an ethnicity she is not.