B L A K S O N R I S E

This supposedly has to do with the fact that the original Celts were Iberian and their ancestors migrated across the strait of Gibraltar from Africa. The red-haired and pale look typically associated with Celtic identity likely comes from admixture from Germanic peoples. Remember that everyone’s ancestors came from Africa if you go far back enough.

Evidence of this phenotype can still be seen in some people today, particularly those from Wales and other western coastal regions. For example:

Welsh presenter Alex Jones

Welsh footballer Chris Coleman

Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones who can notably pass for Hispanic.

English actor Ian McShane

It’s important to note that none of these people are immigrants or descended from immigrants. They all come from families native to the British Isles.

The take-home message here is A) don’t ever let anyone tell you British = pale and B) this

WonJo Jung / HEX