British singer/model Chyna Whyne likens the entertainment industry to “shark-infested waters” that can kill a career if persons don’t conform.

Born Chyna Gordon to parents from Trench Town, she spoke at last Tuesday’s launch of the book IDEAZ — Notions of Beauty & Sexuality in Black Communities in The Caribbean & Beyond.

The launch was held at the University of the West Indies’ Undercroft. Chyna Whyne graces the book’s cover.

“As a black skined/dark skined, bald-headed woman, the challenges in the modelling world and the music industry have been great, I have to say,” she declared.

Chyna Whyne added that she turned down deals that could have advanced her career because it would compromise her integrity.

“Modelling and the music industry are like shark-infested waters where you are forced into compromising situations. I refused to make certain compromises and so I lost record deals, photo [modelling] deals,” she said.

Chyna Whyne has been recording since the 1980s, working with top acts like Peter Gabriel and Eric Clapton.

Among her recent songs are Sexy Baal Ed with Elephant Man and Walking in Stilettos.

‘IDEAZ’ is written by UWI professor Ian Boxill with guest editors Michael Barnett and Clinton Hutton.

Chyna Whyne told the audience that she identifies with the book.

“When I was a child I couldn’t stand being black, I wanted to have long blond hair like the white girls at school…everything I saw on TV, in the media was about white people and how great they were,” she said.

— Basil Walters