Rachel Dolezal, the controversial activist who famously pretended to be a Black woman, has reappeared with a dramatically different appearance that has left fans stunned. The former NAACP leader, who now uses the Nigerian name Nkechi Amare Diallo, showcased her glamorous makeover while marking her 48th birthday last week.
A Dramatic Transformation
Dolezal's new look presents a significantly younger and fresher appearance compared to her previous public image. Some observers even noted a resemblance to pop star Katy Perry, with one fan joking: 'Are you dating Justin Trudeau?' while another commented directly: 'Why are you Katy Perry?'
Many pointed out that Dolezal now appears more Caucasian than during her period of using dark bronzers to align with her self-proclaimed transracial identity as a Black woman. One social media user questioned: 'Did you get the Michael Jackson treatment?' while others praised her natural complexion with comments like: 'You look pretty, your natural skin color suits you,' and 'You look way better embracing your whiteness than you did pretending to be Black.'
From Public Scandal to OnlyFans Career
Dolezal first captured global attention in 2015 when it was revealed she had been passing herself off as a Black woman despite being born to white parents Ruthanne and Lawrence Dolezal in Montana. The exposure destroyed her career, leading to her dismissal as president of the Spokane NAACP chapter and termination from her position teaching Africana studies at Eastern Washington University.
Following her public downfall, Dolezal struggled to find employment until securing work as an after-school instructor at Sunrise Drive Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona. However, this position ended abruptly in early 2023 when the school district discovered her side business as an OnlyFans creator.
Julia Fairbanks, Tucson School District Director of Alumni & Community Relations, confirmed in an email statement: 'We only learned of Ms. Nkechi Diallo's Only Fans social media posts yesterday afternoon. Her posts are contrary to our district's Use of Social Media by District Employees policy and our staff ethics policy. She is no longer employed by the Catalina Foothills School District.'
Legal Troubles and Continued Controversy
Dolezal's legal problems extended beyond employment issues. In May 2018, she faced charges including theft by welfare fraud, perjury and false verification for public assistance. Court documents alleged she illegally received $8,747 in food assistance and $100 in childcare assistance between August 2015 and November 2017.
The case concluded in April 2019 with Dolezal agreeing to pay restitution and complete 120 hours of community service. Throughout her controversies, Dolezal has maintained that she identifies as transracial and claims she did nothing wrong by not correcting assumptions about her racial identity.
She attempted to rebuild her public image through the 2018 Netflix documentary The Rachel Divide and her 2017 memoir In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World. More recently, her OnlyFans account, launched in September 2021, has evolved from initially promising hair tutorials and fitness content to featuring explicit material including sex tapes.
In 2020, Dolezal appeared in the documentary Subjects of Desire, where she blamed her black ex-husband for 'repressing' her and claimed her critics were 'white supremacy folks'. She stated: 'I've been called an insult to white women and an insult to black women. White women are angry because I did what they never would do and went further, like I put 110. I didn't just be that white ally and do a little bit, I canceled my white privilege. I canceled my hair.'
