While Miona Bell has not been acting too offensively on 90 Day Fiancé season 9 thus far, her behavior on social media has raised a serious question of blackfishing. Many viewers feel that Miona blackfishes to appear racially ambiguous or Black on social media and in real life. After old photos of the Serbian woman emerged that showed Miona with pale skin and naturally straight hair, many 90 Day Fiancé fans have called out several of Miona's social media photos from over the years.
Miona appears alongside her rumored husband, Jibri Bell, during 90 Day Fiancé season 9. Many viewers were under the impression that Miona, like Jibri, was partially Black after seeing her promotion photos. However, viewers quickly discovered that the Serbian woman was not. The viewer's revelation led to many fans judging Miona before the season even began. While Miona has come across as spoiled during 90 Day Fiancé season 9, she hasn’t been as offensive as viewers first feared. However, her blackfishing online has still angered many fans.
Like catfishing, blackfishing involves someone presenting themselves as something they are not. Many viewers believe Miona, who has traveled the world, uses cosmetics, hair extensions or wigs, and photo editing to appear Black. This practice is considered harmful because it commodifies the Black experience. Many people, including celebrities, engage in blackfishing to profit off of aspects of the Black experience without having to experience any of the downfalls such as oppression. Blackfishing is considered a form of racial appropriation that many people find to be deeply unacceptable. Therefore many 90 Day Fiancé fans have taken Miona's actions very seriously.
Miona’s Curly Hair
Miona has been accused of blackfishing in many images. One of the main aspects about Miona that shocks viewers is her hair. Old images of Miona show her with pin-straight dark hair. However, Miona has large curls in most of her Instagram photos. Miona’s apparent wig portrays her hair as having a texture different from what she naturally has. This contributes to the illusion that Miona is Black even though she isn’t. However, Miona has defended her hairstyles in the past.
Miona’s Skin Tone
Miona takes things to an extreme level when it comes to images of her skin tone. The 90 Day Fiancé star's skin comes across as very tanned in images on Instagram. When Jibri picked his future wife up from the airport, Miona had significantly paler skin than on her Instagram. However, a combination of makeup, bronzer, and apparent photo editing makes Miona’s skin appear far darker online than it does in real life.
Miona’s Most Unrecognizable Photo
Miona enjoys experimenting with style. However, she doesn’t even look like herself in some of her images. A photo that Miona shared in 2019 shows her looking quite different than she did on 90 Day Fiancé season 9 with no makeup or photo editing. It is clear to many fans that Miona is blackfishing, even if she isn't doing it on purpose.