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Lupita Nyong'o visits 'Sesame Street' to celebrate diversity with Elmo

Lupita Nyong'o joined Elmo on 'Sesame Street' to celebrate skin and all of its diverse shades. 

  • By Staff

Actress Lupita Nyong’o and Elmo shared a lovely moment on “Sesame Street” on Tuesday, celebrating the skin they are in. The Academy Award-winning actress explained the basics of skin with the show’s famous, ever-youthful red monster. After some digging, the monster discovered that under all that fur he has skin too. The the pair talked about all the wonderful shades of skin and celebrated the beauty in diversity.

After winning an Oscar in March for her performance in “12 Years a Slave” – her first feature film role, Ms. Nyong’o was also named People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful Person” in April, recognized for her amazing fashion sense in addition to her stunning good looks. 

Her sweet appearance on “Sesame Street” proved that her beauty is more than skin deep. Since the show launched in 1969, the cast on the street has welcomed 600 celebrity guests, according to the site muppet.wikia.com. Guests have taught children all sorts of lessons, from Sally Ride teaching kids the letter “A” is for astronaut, to the Goo Goo Dolls teaching kids how to feel proud about their accomplishments

Sesame Street has a long history of celebrating diversity, from a cast representing multiple races, ethnic backgrounds, and ages, to story lines that talk about everything from adoption to disabilities and loving others, even grouches.

One of our favorite celebrity cameos – that parents will remember more than their kids – includes Billy Joel and Marly Matlin singing and signing Mr. Joel’s hit “Just the Way you Are” with words adjusted to celebrate Oscar the Grouch’s eternal grouchiness as something that makes him truly lovable.

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