Favourite Top African and Black Models

[simplylovely]

^Yeah, idk, its a name you really can't take seriously lol. Maybe that was the point.

[rubydon]

THE BALLAD OF LA ROSA De NEGRA


Rose Cordero bolts out the gate in the FW 09 sweepstakes: Polaroid by Paul Rowland
The month before shows is the most fun for me when editing at MDC. Why? Because I love watching the drama build around the incoming new faces. The flurry of emails flickering back and forth through the industry over Supreme's Rose Cordero right this minute is pretty damn dramatic and deservedly so. Here's an excerpt of the dialogue between Paul at Supreme and myself yesterday afternoon.
Me: She gives me fragile elegance and she gives me boy! The market needs her...a fab black girl who is totally old school YSL chiiiiiiiiiic
Paul: You hit the nail on the head.... She is dominican mami. The father is african and the mother Spanish....All i know is she's major!!!
I've had many a conversation with Paul about the issue of black models and Mr Rowland has always been forthright in his position. For seasons upon seasons he told me he was waiting for that powerful girl that fell into the Supreme belief system... which is basically super-sleek girls with an edge... cut with a dose of androgyny .
Searing eyes fixed on a fabulous future : Left Frame :Rose Right Frame: Iman
When Rose's polas hit the in box, the first thing I assumed was that she was Somalian or Ethiopian. Though she looked nothing liked Iman this image sparked a memory in the dusty archives of my mind of a shot I had seen of the the young Iman. It is the rise of the hair overwhelming that fragile face, the long neck and then those painfully soulful eyes that match these two women for me.
I think that part of that mythology forged at Yves Saint Laurent by astounding models like Katoucha has been missing from the fashion archives in years. Rose to my eye is a brilliant opportunity to refresh that imagery.. that feeling that is parisienne couture ...that is extreme elegance... that is the girl gliding past you like a hallucination of beauty . More than that... more than Rose Cordero's couture lines... what really excites me about her is how electric her presence feels. There is that sweet Caribbean smile one minute and then when it is time for the picture, Rose just goes into place that is so serene and poetic you know she was born to model.
This young girl has been given a big break to a dream world and I'm feeling that flicker that when Rose Cordero is glossed and glistening under those inevitable runway and studio lights, she is going to devour that moment for all it is worth. I can't wait to see this exquisite face highlighted with world-class make-up gliding on those directional runways. On her Facebook page Rose dubs herself La Rosa de Negra (The Black Rose). Sit back and watch this rose bloom into something incredible.



(source - theimagist.com)

[Gypsy_Doll]

OT, Does anyone know of any black jewellers?

[Urban Stylin]

what magazine is unvogue? Not so keen on their fonts

[marlasinger]

Judging from those photos, I don't get the hype around Rose. I see more interesting faces in this thread daily.

[kahlilg]

Originally Posted by marlasinger

Judging from those photos, I don't get the hype around Rose. I see more interesting faces in this thread daily.

i agree

[Urban Stylin]

i think Rose's hair gives her a somewhat commercial look with a different hairstyle she could become a very versatille model

[rubydon]

the thing i find most fascinating about rose is the people who are championing her. it's all about having the right supporters, and she seems to have the right people on her side right now. can't wait to see if she makes an impact at the shows.

[birgitta]

I understand the hype around her, but what I wonder also is how many models of African descent and other backgrounds have been presented to Supreme over the past few seasons but haven't been thought to meet their aesthetic . I kind of asked a question similar in her thread but I guess some people misunderstood my point. I think Rose is undoubtedly striking, beautiful hair, face, build and will likely do very well, but if we see models who are just as androgynous,edgy and cool just by being on this board (who rarely even get to make it in their own home base of work let alone internationally) just by looking online, I can't even fathom how many more hundreds of girls that Supreme has come across over the years. Unless, of course they completely overlooked girls of various backgrounds which would be a shame since Women and Supreme are the home agency of most of my favorite models. Which is not to say most agencies are much more diverse but Supreme is always touted as such a trendsetter, by themselves and others, so I wonder if it is really simple as just finally finding the ONE edgy girl in the city who didn't happen to very pale with pin straight hair or something more.

[rubydon]

^success can seem so random. there are so many lovely girls -- why do some make it while others fall by the wayside?

the thing i've come to realize, though, is that modeling is about so much more than just looks. take arlenis. she's a stunningly beautiful girl, but so are lots of other girls in this industry. i think the thing that has set her apart is her energy, her personality -- if you've ever seen a video of her, you can immediately tell that she's very charismatic. she's probably got a great work ethic as well.

i'm guessing that rose is also charismatic in her own way, and that this is what made her stand out to those who support her. but i'm only guessing -- only time will tell if she's the real deal.

[simplylovely]

"i think the thing that has set her apart is her energy, her personality"

I agree that has alot to do with it. But that is not always the case. I'm sure Rose can be a very successful supermodel if she has the right agency backing her up.

[FashinKid90]

Originally Posted by Urban Stylin

i think Rose's hair gives her a somewhat commercial look with a different hairstyle she could become a very versatille model

oh no..I think the hair is the best part

[FashinKid90]

From all the mens shows today, I've only seen Wendell and Dominique
Les Hommes Fall 2009 menswear

catwalking

They both had two looks

[kahlilg]

and how funny, they're both at red nyc

[marlasinger]

I agree but I wonder how long it will be until she's forced to weave it or straighten it. I felt the same way about Wakeema's hair but her afro has been MIA for quite awhile. That said, I like Wakeema's looks much more than Rose's.

Originally Posted by FashinKid90

oh no..I think the hair is the best part