Marina Big, a former glamor model from Germany, has undergone a series of drastic procedures in her quest to transform her appearance. At the age of 30, she made a controversial decision to alter her skin tone to become darker, ultimately identifying as a black African woman. This transformation has raised many eyebrows.
Marina, who had a history of undergoing invasive surgeries, including multiple breast augmentation procedures, turned to tanning melanin injections to change her skin tone. After only three shots, her skin darkened significantly, accompanied by alterations in her eye color and hair.
Not only did Marina change her physical appearance, but she also claimed that there was an internal transformation that led her to “change” her race and embrace a black African identity. She and her husband, Michael, who also underwent similar treatment but with different results, are now seeking to permanently relocate to Kenya and immerse themselves in Kenyan culture.
Marina, now known as Malaika Kubwa (Swahili for “big angel”), has adopted Kenyan customs, cuisine, and clothing. The couple is considering settling in Isiolo, a region in northern Kenya near the equator, where the hot, dry climate allowed Marina to achieve her desired skin tone naturally.
However, Marina’s transformation has sparked controversy and backlash, particularly from the black community. Many argue that her actions amount to cultural appropriation, as she did not grow up facing the racial discrimination and challenges experienced by those born black. Some feel that her transformation distracts from the very real issues faced by the black community.
Marina has defended her choices, stating that her African friends have accepted her and that she has learned about black history from them. She claims to have more in common with her African friends than her former white friends in Germany.
Despite these changes, Marina still calls Germany her home, but she has fully embraced African culture, from cuisine to clothing, and looks forward to raising children with her husband, hoping they will be black or mixed-race, even though both were born white.
