Racial Diversity In Modeling

[ChristionCouture]

Are you really suggesting that I can't distinguish a Hispanic from a White person? LOL I guess you assume that I'm not familiar with or have no interest in your people and culture because I'm not Hispanic. You assumed wrong. I'm VERY familiar with Thalia, Paulina and Luis. To clarify, when I flip through a Spanish/Latina high fashion magazine, I usually see identifiable white european models, white american actresses, and black american actresses/entertainers/models.

 

[ChristionCouture]

they don't have to do it, there are [SIZE=-1]Lifestyle magazines for Asian American, it doesn' have to be Vogue right?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]I recommend you[/SIZE]
AudreyMagazine.com
JadeMagazine.com
WomanIntl.com
13minutesmag.com/

pick your fav one!

Your ignorance saddens me.

 

[Hotaru]

It´s true that light-skinned models are unfortunaltely way more in demand than black ones or models with another skincolor.Look at Asia-Japan,Tokyo,etc...They have many agencies for caucasian models.Their advertisements,campaigns and magazines are full of white-skinned models...I can´t understand why they don´t accept their own race.I mean,there are actually so many beautiful Asian girls...They even usle mainly caucasian girls for unpopular catalogues...
The same with back models.Of course you can think of Chanel Iman,Liya Kebede and a few more,but these are the minority of the models and they doesn´t have a success like the most light-skinned girls.
I noticed that in the thread about the most beautiful eyes are mainly blue and green-eyed model named for example.I think it has to do with the fact that the minority of people on the earth are blonde and blue-eyed.So they are actually more fascinated by light-skinned models.
It´s actually sad,because I know some really beautiful black models and I think they´re so underrated comapared to the other girls.

 

[Joseph26]

To clarify, when I flip through a Spanish/Latina high fashion magazine, I usually see identifiable white european models, white american actresses, and black american actresses/entertainers/models.

to clarify, there are "white european" looking models who are mexicans, there are also "afro-american" looking people and they are mexicans

every day we learn something different right?

 

[ChristionCouture]

Hotaru, there are also a lot of Black models with green eyes. Sadly, most people wouldn't know this because they are almost never showcased in mainstream fashion.

 

[ChristionCouture]

to clarify, there are "white european" looking models who are mexicans, there are also "afro-american" looking people and they are mexicans

every day we learn something different right?

Notice how I said IDENTIFIABLE....meaning I know who they are.

 

[MizBlue]

Sethii,,great article
A change is going to come someday but its too long..there is no such thing as the girl next door anymore. the world is full of beautiful people.

I think people should stop buying merchandise from designers who don't feature ethnic models on the runway/campaigns because in some ways it does not fit "the market " IMO

 

[kimair]

why should anyone of any race have to read a magazine from their country?
if i were an asian-american, why should i have to read vogue nippon to find out about fashion? that's just idiotic...

ebony and essence are not "our vogues"
essence is NOT a fashion magazine...
they have fashion features, but it's predominately a magazine about culture and issues related to being a black woman...

vogue IS a fashion magazine...
if i want to read about runway trends and read articles about what is happening in fashion, i would read that...

i don't want my culture covered by vogue...that's not what anyone is saying...
we're talking about fashion ONLY, and fashion is supposed to be a universal thing that anyone can participate in...
it doesn't matter what race you are, you can still be stylish and follow fashion...

are u really expecting the hip-hop issue? the Bling-Bling Issue?

with 50 CENT and Lil Kim on the cover modeling Chanel clothes?

this is really an ignorant statement...
why must all black culture be tied into hip hop?

i keep coming back to this point:
if we are all humans, people, "colorless," then what is the issue with representing all of the colors of the world in vogue?

 

[seanutbutter]

Why should an Asian American have to track down a magazine from another country? They are the largest growing race in the US.

Where did you find this statistic?

Hispanics are the largest growing minority group, not Asians. Asians and Hispanics are both considered a "minority group" when it comes to statistics, not as an insult but as a way of classifying.

Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/05/10/hispanics/index.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2003-06-18-Census_x.htm
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html

 

[Joseph26]

if we are all humans, people, "colorless," then what is the issue with representing all of the colors of the world in vogue?

there's no United Nations Vogue or Worldwide Vogue. B) that's why there are a lot of issues around the world.

 

[JeanAvril]

there's no United Nations Vogue or Worldwide Vogue. B) that's why there are a lot of issues around the world.

But don't all the colors of the world live somewhere in the U.S? And that doesn't even matter. Most of the models in U.S Vogue aren't even from the U.S.

 

[Acid]

ok this whole arguement is rediculous, people just have to accept that it is what it is. you cant begin to think that you can MAKE a magazine do what you want it to.

the team put out their magazine and the reader choses to buy or not to buy the magazine.

people like vogue, and thats why it has been the most sucessful fashion magazine for decades and decades.

and one last thing, if in fact people are really arguing that the girls in vogue dont represent the population of america.... let me ask you something... how many of those girls are even american!!

 

[Joseph26]

vogue IS a fashion magazine...
if i want to read about runway trends and read articles about what is happening in fashion, i would read that... fashion is supposed to be a universal thing that anyone can participate in...
it doesn't matter what race you are, you can still be stylish and follow fashion...

if you like Vogue Magazine buy it, nobody is saying that if you are black you can't buy it, if it doesn't matter what race you are then why feeling bad 'cause that dress that you like is modeled by a white model? it just doesn't make sense.

 

[bismarck]

seanutbutter, that's what I thought, too. But nonetheless, Asians are the third largest minority group in America, behind Hispanics and blacks. The site that I found says that "45 percent of children under age 5 are minorities"...I didn't know that, and it astounds me. By the time I have children, this country could be a completely different place because of it's new diversity. US Vogue should probably follow suit, not necessarily having 50% of models being Hispanic (very unrealistic for now), but at least trying for diversity. And US Vogue is relatively international, I think, at least compared to Harpers Bazaar and Instyle, so that would mean so much.
http://www.prb.org/Articles/2006/IntheNewsUSPopulationIsNowOneThirdMinority.aspx?p=1

Joseph26, isn't it true that the Mexican celebrities do not represent the general Mexican population in regards to race? Most of the Mexican celebrities are identifiably white, or very white looking mestizos, and according to the CIA World Factbook:

Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

https://www.cia.gov/library/publica..._groups.htmls/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html
or if you don't want to scroll:
http://www.indexmundi.com/mexico/ethnic_groups.html

And I don't know what Caroline Trentini's actual ethnic background is, but she is identifiably white; Brazilian doesn't automatically mean mixed or non-white.

Totally agree with kimair.

 

[Joseph26]

ok this whole arguement is rediculous, people just have to accept that it is what it is. you cant begin to think that you can MAKE a magazine do what you want it to.

exactly! that's also my theory, buy what you like and that's it, trying to force to a magazine to include certain content is too much ego.

Karma!

 

[bismarck]

the team put out their magazine and the reader choses to buy or not to buy the magazine.

people like vogue, and thats why it has been the most sucessful fashion magazine for decades and decades.

and one last thing, if in fact people are really arguing that the girls in vogue dont represent the population of america.... let me ask you something... how many of those girls are even american!!

I don't buy US Vogue anymore. I wish more of the people who complain about it would follow suit and put their money where their mouth is, especially since it's so second rate on so many counts now. I think it self advertises the way it does because it has no real substance backing it up, but soon other people will figure it out too.

Your last point didn't make sense. It's an American magazine, whether or not the girls are American or not. So it shouldn't be pandering to Russia or whatever country. If they included more diversity, among other things, then I might actually buy it. I'm not saying that if they don't do what I'll say, I'll stand outside headquarters and yell at them, but this is what I'd like to see, and if there are more people who feel the same way, they might be forced to listen.

 

[MizBlue]

Interesting. I would say that the issue isn't just the lack of black models but the lack of minority models in general. I feel as though there is a lack of exposure given to models who are African, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, Arab and so on so forth. There are many talented girls but they just aren't given the exposure they deserve. I don't feel as though this is a conscious occurrence most of the time rather

I think its just a sort of ignored issue. Designers come up with a look - they have a set vision of how the girls should be and they forget sometimes that their vision might exclude people. There are instances of discrimination but I think on the whole the issues with model selection have more to do with people just not thinking outside the box.

The prevailing look right now is very uniform. As beautiful as many of the top girls are there is a sense that they look alike on some levels. We may be able to discern the differences but give a picture of Gemma, Sasha and Lily (just using them as examples) to the average person and they might not even be able to pick one from the other. I remember when the Top Models cover of Vogue came out - most of my friends who didn't know the models by name complained that all the girls looked identical.

The beauty ideal can be quite narrow - there are so many different ways in which people can be beautiful but I feel as though the magazines aren't showing that in the fullest possible manner. Especially now as society becomes more multicultural. Magazines are expanding into new markets - from Bangkok to Bombay to Boise, Idaho - everyone is reading fashion magazines and/or seeing ads. Its only right that beauty from all those places is represented

. Granted you can't technically please everyone but an effort should be made at this point.

Fashion, perhaps more than anything else has this great ability to cross cultures. Everyone needs clothes. We've all got different taste but at the end of the day unless you're a nudist you're going to need something to put on your back. People look to magazines and media for ideas/inspiration so its a wonderful feeling when you can open up a Vogue or an Bazaar and see someone who represents your heritage. It sort of says - this is beautiful too. Its easy to forget that images have that sort of power.

I think magazines/designers need to open up their eyes and see that their vision can be represented in different ways. I don't want to see just any one type of model. How cool would it be to see a Prada ad with Sasha and Kinee? An editorial with Agyness, Daul, Irina and Sessilee? Or a cover of Vogue Nippon that actually features a Japanese model? That would be incredible! Diversity is one of the things I would love to see an increase of in fashion. It can only benefit the industry at this point - what's not to love about more beautiful girls?

Oh goodness I didn't mean to write an essay

Your response is fantastic.. I enjoyed reading your post.
these were just key pionts (quotes) that capture my attention the most.
You are an incredible writer..I'm sure its part of the reason you are one of the leaders on this forum..Good job and well said!

 

[Jacque Marcel]

Honestly, I don't see how anyone can be against more diversity in high fashion mags. America is probably the most diverse country in the world but it's not really represented in US Vogue. In the early 90's, it was common to have more than one model of color in an spread but now you rarely get one. Things are not improving and I applaud Noami, selfishless or not, for making a fuss.

 

[kimair]

there's no United Nations Vogue or Worldwide Vogue. B) that's why there are a lot of issues around the world.

but isn't america supposed to be a "melting pot"?

if you like Vogue Magazine buy it, nobody is saying that if you are black you can't buy it, if it doesn't matter what race you are then why feeling bad 'cause that dress that you like is modeled by a white model? it just doesn't make sense.

i never said i was "feeling bad;" please don't put words in my mouth...
as a black, educated woman who has a deep interest in fashion, i want to be represented in this magazine...
it's not as if there are no black models out there...
i am saying that when you look at the demographics of this country and the amount of spending power that minorities have, they should be represented in this magazine...

you cant begin to think that you can MAKE a magazine do what you want it to.

at one point in world history, certain minorities could not attend school, vote, get jobs, or even be able to divorce their husbands...
someone had to start the change, so that change could occur...
if you just sit there and remain part of the status quo, nothing will happen...

 

[Joseph26]

as a black, educated woman who has a deep interest in fashion, i want to be represented in this magazine...

didn't you feel represented with the latest Lyia Kebede/Jennifer Hudosn covers?