(No one could deny the
unnatural change in
Michael Jackson's appearance.
Over the years,
the pop-star's face transformed...
almost beyond recongition.
In addition to a thinning nose and mouth,
his skin colour gradually got paler...
to a point where his originally brown skin
became nearly colourless.
SOT Judith Light, actress
''I often think that when we have
this longing to change ourselves inside,
sometimes we do it only on the outside,
and I hope he wasn't struggling
with that any more.''
SOT Michael Levine, former publicist for Jackson
'I had long thought that Michael Jackson
was engaged in behaviour that was
self-destructive and that can only end in an
inevitably bad and tragic way as it did today''
Jackson maintained
that he never intentionally bleached his skin.
He insisted that the lightening skin colour
was caused by vitiligo.
....a rare skin disorder that distroys
pigment cells in the skin,
causing white patches to appear
all over the body.
The singer said he wore thick make-up
to even out the skin tone.
Not everyone was convinced,
despite confirmation from his dermatologist
that he had the disease.
Some criticised Jackson for trying to
deny his race and background...
when the pop star was singing
''Black or White'' - a song about equality.
Harsh words also came from
his own brother.
In the early 90s,
Jermaine Jackson released a song
with the lyrics
''you changed your shade...''
He later changed the words
in the version released in stores.
Last month,
some tabloid newspapers reported
that Michael Jackson was fighting
skin cancer.
The pop star who spent his lifetime
in the public eye...
fought to keep his private life a secret.
Exacly why his features changed so much
may never be known.