If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Twitter (I refuse to call it X) over the last few years, you’ve seen the memes. One photo shows a pale, red-headed girl from Victorious. The next is a deeply tanned R&B star with a "blaccent." The third looks like a K-pop idol with straight brows and winged liner. It’s wild. People joke that she’s the "Avatar" because she’s mastered all four nations, but the conversation about Ariana Grande changing races isn't just a meme—it's a massive case study in how modern celebrities use "ethnic ambiguity" as a marketing tool.
Honestly, she’s white. Both of her parents are of Italian descent—specifically Sicilian and Abruzzese. In 2014, she tweeted about finding out she has some North African and Greek heritage through a genetic test, but for all intents and purposes, she’s a white woman from Boca Raton, Florida. So why does half the internet think she’s Latina, Black, or Asian?
The "Blackfishing" Era: 7 Rings and Darker Tones
For a long time, specifically during the Thank U, Next era around 2018 and 2019, the accusations were almost entirely about "blackfishing." This is when white people use makeup, tanning, and even surgery to appear Black or mixed-race.
Remember the "7 Rings" video? She was surrounded by Black women, using trap house aesthetics, and her skin tone was notably—and I mean notably—darker than it had ever been. At the 2016 VMAs, side-by-side photos with Nicki Minaj showed Ariana looking almost the same shade as the rapper. That’s not just a "summer glow." Critics like journalist Wanna Thompson, who helped coin the term blackfishing, pointed out that Ariana was adopting the "aesthetic" of Blackness—the slang, the tan, the hair—without having to deal with the actual systemic racism that comes with being Black.
It worked for the music. The R&B-heavy tracks felt "authentic" to listeners because she looked the part. But the moment she started leaning into a different sound, the "identity" shifted again.
🔗 Read more: Nicole Kidman with bangs: Why the actress just brought back her most iconic look
From Blackfishing to "Asianfishing"
By 2021, the tan was gone. Suddenly, Ariana looked incredibly pale. Her eyebrows were straighter, her eyes appeared more "lifted," and her overall style shifted toward what people called "Asianfishing."
The backlash peaked when she posted photos in a green oversized blazer. Her makeup and the way the photos were edited made her look almost unrecognizable. People accused her of trying to mimic East Asian beauty standards, which were becoming "trendy" thanks to the global explosion of K-pop. It wasn't just about the skin; it was the entire vibe. She even got a tattoo that was supposed to say "7 Rings" in Japanese but famously translated to "BBQ Grill."
You've gotta wonder: is it a conscious choice? Or is she just a "chameleon" who gets too influenced by the people she hangs out with?
The Evolution of the "Face"
- 2010-2013: The Nickelodeon years. Pale skin, bright red hair, very "girl next door."
- 2014-2017: The transition. High ponytails, heavy spray tans, and a "vaguely Latina" look.
- 2018-2020: Peak ethnic ambiguity. Deep tans, AAVE (African American Vernacular English) usage, and heavy R&B influence.
- 2021-2026: The "Glinda" pivot. Extremely pale, blonde hair, minimalist makeup, and a softer, more "European" aesthetic.
Why Does She Look So Different Now?
If you see her today—especially during the Wicked press runs—she looks more like the girl from 2010 than the girl from 2019. It’s a total 180. Some of this is definitely the "Glinda effect." For her role as Glinda the Good Witch, she had to go blonde and lean into a "pure," ethereal look.
💡 You might also like: Kate Middleton Astro Chart Explained: Why She Was Born for the Crown
But there’s also the conversation about "Instagram Face" and plastic surgery. Fans on subreddits like r/ArianaGrandeSnark frequently point out things like "upper blepharoplasty" (eyelid surgery), brow lifts, and buccal fat removal. When you combine those procedures with a drastic change in skin tone—from a level 8 spray tan to natural porcelain—it makes the Ariana Grande changing races narrative feel less like a conspiracy and more like a visible reality.
The problem isn't just that she looks different. It’s that she seems to "wear" these ethnicities when they are profitable. In the R&B world, she was tan. In the Broadway/film world, she’s pale. That’s the core of the frustration.
The Reality of Ethnic Ambiguity in Pop
It’s not just Ariana. We’ve seen it with the Kardashians, Jesy Nelson, and even Bhad Bhabie. There is a specific "look" that dominates social media: full lips, tan skin, "cat" eyes, and small noses. It’s a mix of features that doesn't belong to any one race but borrows from all of them.
Ariana is just the most famous example because she’s so good at it. She’s a world-class vocalist. She doesn't need the gimmicks, but the industry loves a trend. When "exotic" was the trend, she was "exotic." Now that the "clean girl" or "quiet luxury" aesthetic is in—which favors a more natural, often whiter look—she has returned to her "original" self.
📖 Related: Ainsley Earhardt in Bikini: Why Fans Are Actually Searching for It
What This Means for You
If you're a fan or just someone watching from the sidelines, there are a few things to keep in mind about how we consume celebrity culture:
- Question the "Trend": Realize that skin color and ethnic features aren't fashion accessories. When a celebrity "tries on" a race, it's worth asking who they might be hurting or what culture they are commodifying.
- Media Literacy: Understand that lighting, editing, and makeup play huge roles. A photo isn't always "the truth," but a pattern of behavior over ten years usually tells a story.
- Separate Talent from Image: You can love her voice—which is genuinely incredible—while still being critical of how she presents her identity. You don't have to pick a side.
Ultimately, Ariana Grande is an Italian-American woman who has navigated the music industry by being a visual shape-shifter. Whether you call it "evolution" or "race-baiting," it’s clear that her look is as much a part of her "brand" as her four-octave range. As she moves into her thirties and deeper into her film career, the "changing races" era might be behind her, but the internet never forgets a screenshot.
To get a better sense of how celebrity branding works, you can look into how other stars use "eras" to redefine their public image. Check out the history of "Blackfishing" in the music industry to see how Ariana's journey compares to other artists who have faced similar scrutiny.