Color Correct: A 9-Year-Old's 'More Than Peach' Campaign Meets Its Match in Crayola's 'Colors of the World' - The Root

The brand launched its initial Multicultural color offerings in 1992, but Bellen’s experience proves that there was far more work to be done in representing the wide swath of skin tones across the globe—and Crayola had already begun an initiative of its own.

On Thursday, the legacy brand announced the launch of its Colors of the World crayons, “a line of 24 newly formulated crayons representing 40 global skin tones,” according to a release sent to The Root, which also revealed that a cosmetic chemist had been enlisted to help develop the new shades.

In order to reflect an accurate and broadly inclusive skin tone palette, Crayola sought counsel from Victor Casale, who has over 30 years of experience in creating some of the most diverse foundation colors as MAC Chief Chemist, Managing Director and Cover FX Cofounder and Chief Innovative Officer.

Victor partnered with various internal Crayola teams to develop the newly formulated crayon colors that encompass three undertones: Rose, Almond and Golden and range in skin tone colors from Extra Light to Deepest.

“Growing up, I remember mixing the pink and dark brown crayons to try and make my shade, so I was thrilled when Crayola asked for my help to create the Colors of the World crayons.”

Each pack will feature color-charted side panels, and each crayon will be “wrapped in a gradient skin tone label with the color name in English, Spanish and French, and purposefully has a realistic color name—such as Light Golden, Deep Almond and Medium Deep Rose—all to help kids easily find the shade they identify as their own,” reports AP News