‘90 Day Fiancé’ Season 9: Miona Claps Back After Fans Accuse Her of Blackfishing — ‘I’m Serbian’
90 Day Fiancé Season 9 star Miona has broken her silence after fans recently accused her of Blackfishing. The season premiere on Sunday, April 17, introduced viewers to the Serbian cast member, who will move from Niš to America to marry South Dakota native Jibri. Some fans immediately pointed out instances where Miona’s skin looked darker than they thought it should have been, but she wasn’t having it. Read on to see her response.
’90 Day Fiancé’ fans called out season 9 cast member Miona for Blackfishing
The scandal started last week when fans started sharing photos of Miona on Reddit. Many people called out her hair and skin tone, accusing her of Blackfishing: — an instance where “White public figures, influencers and the like do everything in their power to appear Black,” journalist Wanna Thompson told CNN. This behavior often includes copying skin tone, hairstyles, and clothing trends.
“That’s def a fake tan and not her real hair. If it’s real, how tf is the curly hair longer than her straight hair? On her IG she has 10 different hair textures because of the weave. It’s so annoying that all these excuses are being made up for her Blackfishing,” one commenter wrote on Reddit.
Others compared Miona to other public figures and influencers who have been accused of Blackfishing in the past, such as Ariana Grande or Kylie Jenner.
“Isn’t it obvious she’s aspiring to be a Serbian Kylie Jenner? Have you seen Kylie as a teen?” one person wrote in another thread. “She was ‘Little House on the Prairie white’ with freckles. Then got all these injections and procedures, not to mention tanning to look more ‘ethnic.’ Miona is obviously trying to be a poor version of Kylie Jenner.”
Miona took to Instagram to defend herself and her heritage
Although Miona kept quiet on the matter at first, she finally responded on April 21. She posted a carousel of images on Instagram, including a statement and photos of hairstyles from her Serbian culture.
“I’m Serbian! I will represent myself as such! I love my country and my people and I’m born and raised there,” she wrote. “There is no need to clarify this because in my country we don’t nonchalantly abuse other people without knowing anything about them.”
Miona went on to share that she is Serbian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern. However, she chooses to represent Serbia “because that is [her] culture.”
“My ancestors went through 500 years of occupation and slavery, and my parents survived a couple of wars on Yugoslavian soil!” she continued. “SO DON’T EVEN DARE TO THINK YOU KNOW ME BECAUSE YOU SAW ME ON REALITY TV FOR 3 MINUTES!”
’90 Day Fiancé’ Season 9 has already spelled trouble for Miona and Jibri
For those unfamiliar with Jibri and Miona’s story, the two met in Serbia while Jibri traveled with his band, Black Serbs. They began dating and traveling together before Jibri proposed to Miona, planning to wed in the U.S. However, the two have already had a disagreement about their future plans.
Jibri wants to live with his parents in South Dakota for a few months to save up for a place in Los Angeles. However, Miona insists that she doesn’t want to lead a small-town life. Will the two find a way to compromise? Fans will have to keep watching to find out.
90 Day Fiancé Season 9 airs new episodes on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for more updates.
