Sadly, in todays world, people of different races are still discriminated against, even in the fashion industry. Black models don't get the employment that white models do. Many designers and magazines are rather reluctant to accept black models.''Sadly we are in the business where you stock your shelves with what sells," says Carole White, co-founder of Premier Model Management."Yes, I'd say the industry is racist. In Milan black girls never work. In Paris it's still the same. It's 2011 and that's quite disgusting, really." (Anne Wilshaw, booker)
Take the magazine Marie Claire for example, in over 300 pages, there is only eight photographs of black women, and even less in other magazines, like Glamour and Vogue.
Apparently, black models dont have allot to offer, they dont have unique looks. I, along with most people, beg to differ. Many designers dont take models that arent white into account when they are preparing their clothes and makeup for their shows and ads. Even though black models certainly do sell, designers like to take the ''safe route'' and hire a white model with blonde hair.Some model castings have limitations (ex: ''no ethnics'') , which certainly isnt fair. I mean, in a way I can see how designers cast for a certain look, but in the same light, its totally unfair. Often black models are shot in tribal prints and bright makeup in desert scene(''african'' scene), which many find a bore and unfair that they are limited to specific styles.
Models like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell have had more than a few things to say about racism in this industry, and I dont blame them.
''There has never been a lot of money for black models in that world, because all the money was in advertising, in the campaigns and black models rarely got those so my wages would be... I’d be getting so much less than the other girls and I thought that was just so wrong.'' (Tyra Banks)
"There is a lack of women of colour within the fashion industry which needs to be addressed. It is important for the agents, managers, advertisers and designers who are promoting change to speak out. We are not here to complain, we need to find a solution." (Naomi Campbell)
The first african amercian women in the fashion world were Beverly Johnson, who was the first black model to be featured on the cover of vogue, and was on 500 magazine covers in her career, as well as Veronica Webb, the first african american woman to sign a cosmetic contract with Revlon, and modelled for top designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Isaac Mizrahi. Popular black models today are Chanel Iman (who models for Victoria's Secret), Alek Wek, Liya Kebede and Leomie Anderson.
It is crazy that there are still racial issues. I don't understand how people still can't accept the fact that Caucasian is not the only race, especially in the modeling industry. I'm about to contradict my beliefs here but this is an exception. Girls look up to these models and if young African-American girls do not see any photos of African-American woman in the magazines than they are going to start believing that they are not good enough or beautiful enough because they are not being portrayed. These things need to be sorted out...
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! Some times, black women do look better in certain clothes, and yet, the designers and agencies fail to see this.
ReplyDeleteMany black models are inspirations to lots of younger girls, whether they are of color or not. Like you said, take Tyra Banks, one of the most inspirational fashion icon there is, she's beautiful, has a TV show, which allows ethnic women and released her new books. Whether you're black, white, beige (thanks Gaga), it's not about the color, but it's about your work.