Sammy Sosa tells friends he is comfortable in his own skin.
 
But a widely circulated photo of the former Cubs slugger makes his skin color appear several shades lighter.
 
"He's not trying to be Michael Jackson," said former Cubs employee Rebecca Polihronis, who talks frequently with Sosa.
 
Sosa was photographed recently during an appearance at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
 
"He is going through a rejuvenation process for his skin," Polihronis said. "Women have it all of the time. He was surprised he came out looking so white. I thought it was a body double. Part of (the photo appearance) is just the lighting.
 
"He is in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin. The picture is deceiving. He said, 'If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture.'
 
"People who saw him in person did not react the same way. He can't believe it is such a big deal."