Racial Diversity In Modeling

[Fontenrose]

What about what Kimair said?

 

[kahlilg]

^was that question directed towards me? idk it seemed to have a kind of "i'm better than them" kind of tone. maybe she didn't mean it like that but that's how i understood.

honestly it's great that kimair had educated parents who wanted the best for her and it worked out. but what irked me was this

what's interesting is the backlash that comes from that...in some circles you are considered too assimilated or *gasp* abandoning your roots...

like i said before this isn't our problem. i have been called an "oreo," not black enough, or just simply white many a time (btw i am 100% black/afro-american) however i know for a fact they didn't just wake up one day and decide i wasn't black enough. we all are victims of society and what it's feeding us. they were comparing me to black people in the media and black people they encountered and i didn't fit in with that. i will repeat this is the problem for those who have treated us and taught us that we aren't good enough. so if change is going to come white, rich, christian, heterosexual, able bodied, men etc. better step up to the plate. sure we can all do our part to help but it ultimately falls onto those with power.

 

[writergal28]

But can't someone be taught? I don't think a My Fair Lady kind of training is that far from reality. Also, I would think that since Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo are so developed and fashion-forward, that it wouldn't be THAT hard to find a tall Asian girl.

 

[kahlilg]

^was that directed towards me cause i agree. i wouldn't force anyone to be trained but if a model wants to fine.

 

[Fontenrose]

...we all are victims of society and what it's feeding us.

The trouble is, a casting director doesn't care about this, anymore than most other employers. If they see a body language, or a dialect that turns them off, the impact on her is that she won't get the job.

The behaviours Christion is talking about are disruptive, which doesn't really work until people are willing to tolerate the nonsense because she is already a star. A new model is just not that important, and is expected to be quiet and compliant. That's why clients use agencies, so models are instantly replaceable and the job proceeds.

I think the My Fair Lady route would be too much work.

I would look for a tall Asian girl in some North American cities, where diet brings up the height and she has not been taught to be so self-effacing. Vancouver for one has a 30% Asian population, and lots of tall mixed Asian girls, like DNA's Mackenzie.

 

[kahlilg]

The trouble is, a casting director doesn't care about this, anymore than most other employers. If they see a body language, or a dialect that turns them off, the impact on her is that she won't get the job.

I understand that, but they should. But anyways going back to what I had said earlier of course it's going to be hard to find girls with the whole package, but that doesn't mean you should give up completley. CC makes it seem like it's impossible. Has anyone been to the Favourite Top African and Black Models thread? They are always posting up and coming black models.

 

[Fontenrose]

Has anyone been to the Favourite Top African and Black Models thread?

Absolutely gorgeous show cards! Now let's see them book lots of shows!

 

[ChristionCouture]

I can't imagine that there is any shortage of tall, th*n, lovely black American girls -- or black American girls who want to be models.

But on the speech/culture thing, isn't this the controversial thing that Bill Cosby was saying, that the speech/cultural patterns of many blacks separate them from the mainstream jobs? A non-standard accent just doesn't sound professional.

In modeling more successful black models come from the UK, Canada and countries other than the US. Like Jourdan or Liya. Or Naomi.

I am not sure that casting directors are seriously looking for personality when they see the girls in a casting lineup for a few minutes. Isn't that just something they like to say? However any little thing will turn them off, including an annoying voice or attitude.

Yes!

 

[ChristionCouture]

The trouble is, a casting director doesn't care about this, anymore than most other employers. If they see a body language, or a dialect that turns them off, the impact on her is that she won't get the job.

The behaviours Christion is talking about are disruptive, which doesn't really work until people are willing to tolerate the nonsense because she is already a star. A new model is just not that important, and is expected to be quiet and compliant. That's why clients use agencies, so models are instantly replaceable and the job proceeds.

I think the My Fair Lady route would be too much work.

I would look for a tall Asian girl in some North American cities, where diet brings up the height and she has not been taught to be so self-effacing. Vancouver for one has a 30% Asian population, and lots of tall mixed Asian girls, like DNA's Mackenzie.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Khalilg is hoping for casting directors/scouts/agencies/designers to have an open heart and care about Blacks. For what? Why should they? For the good of humanity? Give me a break! They have a profit to make (in a time of recession) and a company brand image to uphold. They throw one or two blacks on the runway to satisfy their non-white consumers and that's that. What we need to do is let these designers and magazine editors know how we feel. Continue to make them aware of what you want to see. Keep your receipts of everything you bought each year and mail copies of them back to the corporate offices. Let them know that you're Black and unhappy with being unrepresented as a valued customer of the brand or magazine. I met with an editor of a very influential magazine a while back and I confronted him about the lack of black models and black industry professionals. His response was simply a flustered "I have no idea." It was amazing to see a man of his stature be so unprepared for such an obvious problem. It's quite clear that this was something never really conveyed to him. Had he never been confronted by a black person about this issue before? If we really want change, why are we not saying anything? We comment amongst each other but never go to the people responsible for what we see on stands and on runways. I'm quite sure I was immediately labeled as another angry black even though I addressed him in pleasant and professional manner.

 

[kahlilg]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Khalilg is hoping for casting directors/scouts/agencies/designers to have an open heart and care about Blacks. For what? Why should they? For the good of humanity? Give me a break! They have a profit to make (in a time of recession) and a company brand image to uphold. They throw one or two blacks on the runway to satisfy their non-white consumers and that's that. What we need to do is let these designers and magazine editors know how we feel. Continue to make them aware of what you want to see. Keep your receipts of everything you bought each year and mail copies of them back to the corporate offices. Let them know that you're Black and unhappy with being unrepresented as a valued customer of the brand or magazine. I met with an editor of a very influential magazine a while back and I confronted him about the lack of black models and black industry professionals. His response was simply a flustered "I have no idea." It was amazing to see a man of his stature be so unprepared for such an obvious problem. It's quite clear that this was something never really conveyed to him. Had he never been confronted by a black person about this issue before? If we really want change, why are we not saying anything? We comment amongst each other but never go to the people responsible for what we see on stands and on runways. I'm quite sure I was immediately labeled as another angry black even though I addressed him in pleasant and professional manner.

No I actually agree with this. I just found it the tone of your original post to be a little condescending. I get the goal of a casting directer etc. however i was just trying to make a point that it's bigger than girls just having an attitude.

 

[birgitta]

All-Black Cast in First Womenswear Show

Carlos CamposPhoto: Getty Images

Menswear designer Carlos Campos is showing his first women's collection Monday during Fashion Week, and he's just announced he'll use only black models in the runway show at the Altman Building. The New York Observer received a press release about the show, which explained supermodel Iman inspired the casting decision and described the collection as "Jet set rockstar — think David Bowie and Iman on holiday in the South of France." But ironically, Iman told us she had reservations about Italian Vogue's all-black issue because she didn't want it to reduce black models to a "caricature." The Observer asks, "We're all for seeing more diversity in fashion, but should we interpret Mr. Campos's show as having diversity for the sake of diversity, or just a publicity stunt?" Considering the Campos camp sent out a press release about this, we're inclined to choose the latter. That said, we don't also doubt Campos genuinely believes in promoting diversity on the runways. But we've already seen Sean John and Dsquared2 do this. So maybe the truly innovative thing to do this season would be to cast a group of models that's actually, well, diverse.

source: http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/

 

[kahlilg]

hmm never heard of him.

 

[ChristionCouture]

I don't like what he's doing. Black models don't want to be segregated and treated like zoo animals on display. Why can't they just be included in a regular show? Are they not good enough to walk amongst white models?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Surely that is not the point he is conveying ... surely that would be the point conveyed by an all-white runway.

 

[Fontenrose]

Meanwhile, the struggle continues. "I saw about 400 girls, again, as I do every year," says Roger Padilha, creative director of MAO PR. "My exact number was 378, from 10 agencies. And of those girls, I'd say that I saw about eight black girls. Some… were not very good, so it isn't like I really have eight black girls to choose from. I have about three or four that made it into my 'yes' pile. So it's frustrating."

Yet an on-looker says:

I work in midtown and walk clear downtown every day after work (my point being: i walk what i assume is a predictable "scouting" path!!) and I see HUNDREDS of extremely modelesque black girls (legs up to their necks, v. elegant figures, beautiful/interesting faces) and I haven't seen any of these girls on the runway...Why?!? I have no idea...I really don't believe the diverse new faces aren't out there b/c I see them! I think agents are complacent with their five or six stunning token "minorities." UGH. Very annoying. Very upsetting.

 

[ChristionCouture]

Yet an on-looker says:

These quotes were both spot on the money! I think the beautiful model-esqe black girls don't seek to become models and the black girls that seek it out are not up to par. I think the scouts pick the best of the worst in order to fill their quota for black models for certain clients. I also think the other problem is the areas in which the scouts are seeking out black models. Perhaps they may want to spend more time in predominantly black areas.

 

[kahlilg]

These quotes were both spot on the money! I think the beautiful model-esqe black girls don't seek to become models and the black girls that seek it out are not up to par. I think the scouts pick the best of the worst in order to fill their quota for black models for certain clients. I also think the other problem is the areas in which the scouts are seeking out black models. Perhaps they may want to spend more time in predominantly black areas.

i agree.

 

[fashionista-ta]

These quotes were both spot on the money! I think the beautiful model-esqe black girls don't seek to become models and the black girls that seek it out are not up to par. I think the scouts pick the best of the worst in order to fill their quota for black models for certain clients. I also think the other problem is the areas in which the scouts are seeking out black models. Perhaps they may want to spend more time in predominantly black areas.

But if they do that are they going to find the 'assimilated' traits you say are so important?

 

[ChristionCouture]

Well, that's why the industry is in the position it's in now. They have to seek for black talent outside of America's bad influence. I can only think of two popular black American models right now. One from LA and one from Philly. And like I said before, there is always an exception to the rule.

 

[kahlilg]

Wakeema Hollis was born in Tennessee.