I think what's going on here:
1) Syd is very good looking. Every good looking woman will be accused of riding her looks to success. It's just the way the world works. And it's not all wrong. Good looking women do have opportunities thrown at them. The NB team is chock full of good looking women and don't seem to hire anything but. So probably other women have made snide comments on her fame, implying her looks helped. Which is true, they did help. Her looks didn't get her the WR and medal, but they did help her get attention, followers and probably a bigger contract.
2) The racial stuff is beyond my knowledge but I think we all know that there is an insidious aspect of black culture....light skinned black women like Syd gain some sort of social status among african americans. Hair factors in too. Look up the paper bag test.