Racial Diversity In Modeling

[J.M.L]

Maybe the problem is just that some designers actually are racist and prefer white models. This means there needs to be newer designers knocking out the discriminating ones.

 

[kimair]

And i'm sorry I cannot really pay attention to absolutely nothing that someone like Naomi has to say.

well that's really sad because she's the reason the discussion is happening...
look past the person talking to what they are talking about...
there needs to be a separation between how you may feel about someone as a person and if they are saying something that is based in fact...
naomi has never been one of my favorite models, but what she speaks of is true...
because she has spoken up, other people, including bethann hardison, diane von furstenberg and others have become involved and a dialogue has started....

i don't think anyone is asking for a quota or some kind of affirmative action rule take place on the runway...
what's being asked for is opportunity....
if a casting director comes to a designer with a stack of model cards, they shouldn't say, "i don't want to see any black girls because i already have one," or "i don't want to see any minorities..."
casting directors should be able to bring designers models that are the best models...
designers are eliminating girls before they even see them, making a determination based on race alone...

 

[xmodel citizen]

Isn't discrimination in the workplace illegal across the board?

 

[kimair]

Isn't discrimination in the workplace illegal across the board?

yes it is...

 

[nyc_art_style]

How about short people...short people are born short..and they cannot set foot on a runway ..unless your last name is Kardashian that is

or if your name is kate moss, or sasha p

its ridiculous that this issue has gotten to the point that the council had to send out a letter to remind people to use all kinds of models.

and this cycle of people who work in fashion making excuses. the designers complain about the casting directors, the casting directors complain about the agencies, and the agencies complain about the designers! someone in this cycle needs to stop complaining and needs to hire girls of all kinds.

i'm happy for the black and asian faces on the runway, now if only we can get some indian girls.

 

[xmodel citizen]

The funny thing is, back when designers got to choose the models by themselves, everyone was hotter. It just highlights the ridiculousness of the cyclical blame. Someone needs to just shut up and CHOOSE DIFFERENT MODELS!

DVF stepped it up this year on a variety of levels.

 

[Acid]

Isn't discrimination in the workplace illegal across the board?

modeling is a freelance job though, there is no 'right' to model

 

[Les_Sucettes]

well that's really sad because she's the reason the discussion is happening...
look past the person talking to what they are talking about...
there needs to be a separation between how you may feel about someone as a person and if they are saying something that is based in fact...

That's impossible, the value of what someone says is absolutely dependent of the person who says it. I was reading yesterday that Naomi never earned as much as all the supermodels of her time did, the idea behind the article was that happened because she was black, well if we didn't knew Naomi's antics we would be surprised that happened, but she known to be a terrible person, so who can says what the case was? It is relevant to known who's speaking.


And still, designers eliminate girls without seeing them by height, by weight, body shape,by a series of factors. I do not think Black girls or any type of person has the "right" to be in the catwalk.
I do not think casting directors are to blame, it's all in the hands of the designers, they will always have the girls they want. if they wanted them all Black or Indian or Asian, they would have them.

I like to see variety in the catwalk, most of us do like fashion shows that looks like they were was cast in red neck country, but variety for variety sake for me it's wrong. I would never chose a model because of the color of their skin to be inclusive. The black girls around at the moment, and in theory they are the best of the best if they made it this far in this difficult consitions are bad IMHO. If I was as designer I would not cast them at all an they get casted,I cannot even imagine how are the ones they refused, where are the Imans and the Aleks ?

 

[xmodel citizen]

^^ Of course, who needs regulation anyway right? I mean, then they might have to stop using children. Dear Lord, the modeling industry is pretty much sickening.

 

[writergal28]

I think Naomi Campbell might be the problem. She has a reputation and I wouldn't be surprised if the entire industry hates her guts...whether she made this statement or not.

 

[Sugarmama]

I guess for some people that is true. Despite her reputation, I think what she has to say was important.

 

[Dkammern]

modeling is a freelance job though, there is no 'right' to model

i very much agree. using the "discrimination argument" everybody could complain about it... young girls, old women, larger girls, short girls, or MEN!

being a model your job depends on whether a casting director thinks you are "good enough" or... not!

 

[kimair]

That's impossible, the value of what someone says is absolutely dependent of the person who says it. I was reading yesterday that Naomi never earned as much as all the supermodels of her time did, the idea behind the article was that happened because she was black, well if we didn't knew Naomi's antics we would be surprised that happened, but she known to be a terrible person, so who can says what the case was? It is relevant to known who's speaking.

ok fine...
so what about the other people who have spoken up about this issue, like diane von fustenberg, ivan bart (from img), bethann hardison...
they are saying the same thing naomi is saying...
do you not value their opinion?

I was reading yesterday that Naomi never earned as much as all the supermodels of her time did, the idea behind the article was that happened because she was black, well if we didn't knew Naomi's antics we would be surprised that happened, but she known to be a terrible person, so who can says what the case was?

it wouldn't surprise me that naomi made less than the other supers because she was black...
it's been proven that minority women make less than others doing the same job in the same region...

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Naomi: Fashion Industry More Racist

Supermodel Naomi Campbell says the fashion industry is more racist than ever.

Campbell hit out at the lack of black faces on magazine covers and catwalks.

She told The London Paper: "Women of colour are not a trend. That's the bottom line. It's a pity that people don't always appreciate black beauty. In some instances, black models are being sidelined by major modelling agencies."

She continued: "Fashion needs to go back to the way it used to be when wonderful designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace and Azzedine Alaia just had a great line-up of beautiful women - white, black, Chinese, Hispanic."

Campbell, 37, admitted that her supermodel pals helped her career by taking a stand against racism.

"Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington would go to big designers and say, 'If you don't pick Naomi to be in your show, then I don't want to be in it'," she recalled.

"The only reason I got the cover of French Vogue was because Yves Saint Laurent called up and told them he'd pull his ads if they didn't."

The Streatham-born star spoke out after her former boss admitted racism was still rife in the industry.

Carole White, head of the Premier model agency and who represented Campbell for 17 years, said: "A black girl has to be perfect to get work. The bookers are told, 'Don't send any ethnic girls'.

"I showed a picture of a new black girl to an agent in Milan, and he actually recoiled. He said, 'We don't have black girls in Milan. It's impossible.'"

[http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzjpruAlBh2yNznkSUVehwII9Lbw]

 

[AlexLovesIt]

Much more variety in NY.

 

[Northern Star]

^^Yeah about time too.B)
This needs to translate to the shows in Europe.......and then hopefully to more editorials and dare I say.......maybe some covers.

 

[jjbunny79]

i think the question goes as:
why do we have to think inside the box?
and if we look for people of certain image to model the cloth, why dont we use those dolls instead?
isnt clothes supose to be made for us?

 

[nyc_art_style]

what do you guys think about the diversity in milan thus far?

jourdan dunn is doing good. but i haven't seen anyone else.

 

[Andro]

I just want to bring back this 3 year old discussion about Black models not being represented at Prada. Well it is confirmed that black model, Jourdan Dunn, did the Prada fall/winter 2008 show this week in Milan!

 

[FashionCapital]

Sigh, I wish Austria Ulloa was a Pradclusive this year.