Where is the Love?

Liya Kebede

I'm a librarian, but my first love is fashion - not always evident in the clothes I wear, but that's another story to be told another time. Anyway, I just read a couple of articles that stated that Black models haven't been used as much as in times past. I have to say that I'm not completely surprized, but I also wonder where all the other models of color were (and I don't mean Caucasian models who happen to be born and/or raised in "exotic" locations - and yes, of course there are gorgeous Caucasian models too, but my point is that there's plenty of room for everyone). If you think that all the Black models retired with Iman, America's Next Top Model (and even my favorite, Project Runway, to a smaller extent) has proven that there still are little girls of color who want to grow up to be supermodels, so why aren't they on the runway?

Du Juan

Runways Fade to White. New York Times, October 14, 2007

Fashion Week Runways Almost a Total Whitewash. Jezebel.com, February 11, 2008

Where Are All The Black Models? Start By Asking Anna Wintour. Jezebel.com, October 15, 2007

It seems to me that the argument that Black models (and other models of color) do not sell magazines (or whatever else) is a load of it. Its the same argument that Hollywood bigwigs use to explain away their inability to cast more than just a couple of Black, Asian and Latino actors (don't even get me started on the tendency to stick them right in the proverbial stereotype box when they do get cast). I'm feeling quite optimistic today, but I'm feeling like there are a lot of people who will buy from (or pay to see a movie starring, or vote for) someone whose work they appreciate. And sometimes, its about who gets pushed on us as the "next great new thing." Who's in charge of that? If those in charge think a particular person is not going to be appealing to the "whiter" population, they won't hire them, which just becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Elsa Benitez

As Obama's popularity (and number of delegates) has shown, not all people in the general population (and not just in my "progressive" neck of the woods) are as closed-minded as people in fashion and entertainment (and the news media?) would like to think. However, I do wonder about those who are in charge of the magazines, the fashion houses, the booking agents, the casting agents, and the movie producers. I think it's their closed-mindedness we really have to worry about.

**(Update: I have to say that I had the hardest time finding images of high fashion Latina and Asian fashion models - does that say more about me or about who the fashion industry chooses to promote? And don't even think about mentioning Gisele Bundchen as an example of a Latina model. Just being from Brazil does not make you Latina. And yes, I am aware of Jaslene Gonzalez - Boriqua! - but I was looking for established editorial models.)

All photos courtesy of Photobucket.com -thanks Photobucket!