Lately, I been dipping into older articles featuring models from the early 1900s just to get a feel of the spectrum and change of the looks of models from then to now. One thing that I did notice is the of course-- the nonexistent amount of black models. What is up with that? It seems like if you are not from Brazil or name is along of Gisele or Adrianna, you are just not happening. Don't get me wrong, there has been black women who broke through the industry and claimed that black too is beautiful. Tyra, Naomi Campbell, Beverly, Iman, Pat Cleveland, Donyale Luna, Naomi Sims. But who do we have now? Yes, we have Chanel Iman, Selita Ebanks, Liya Kebede, Joan Smalls., Sessilee Lopez, Lyndsey Scott but that is very few. Black women have been modeling for decades but you won't exactly get a black woman with a deeper , darker skin tone on the cover of a German Vogue too easier. For example, Ophelia Devore, a black model, was able to gain contracts in Europe because she could pass for Norwegian. Now in America , black women may not be appreciated much . However in France, many Black women such as Norma Jean Darden, Alva Chin, Charlene Dash, Bethann Hardison was able to get their shine on working for the great Yves St. Laurent, legendary Givenchy, and the fab Christian Dior . Paving the way for other current black supermodels, the epidemic of a shortage of colour in the industry was not stopped.Yet you can go on for hours, days on the amount of White women who are dominating the fashion industry. Now, I am not saying that Black is better than the rest and we deserved 100% of the light but it would be nice to see more women of color. There is gorgeous women of every color. It really is not fair to know that models all over the world are being discovered in a McDonalds or down the street knowing that so many beautiful black women are strutting with their model behavior waiting and looking for that chance too. This is the reason why so many black women face self hatred because not many women who look similar to them walking down the runway. Here I am a young black women standing 5'10 and wondering why I too is not catwalking for Zac Posen. Life is just really crazy sometimes. At this time period, you would people would be breaking barriers in other things than race . IT TOOK THIS LONG. Why did just recently Lyndsey Scott made history being the first black woman to land a Calvin Klein Exclusive. You would think by 2011, a dwarf would be modeing for Valentino. Ha! But it is not just the models. It is the deisgners too! Name one top Black couture designer? *silence* Exactly. With shows like Project Runaway, there should be a brotha or a sista's fashion line on the racks of Neiman Marcus and Bergoff Goodman. Yes, there was a turn out for blacks in the industry with the urban wear such as Rocawear, Baby Phat, G-Unit, etc. had a nice turn out for a decade or two. But it only reached towarded the a certain group of people. You wasn't exactly seeing Rihanna rocking a Baby Phat tee. Though money makes the world go round and many urban wear designers were not necessarily worried about the audience, I would like to see a fashion line go global and have everyone wear which a range of prices. As a black woman trying to breakthrough into this harsh yet breathtaking industry, I am prepared for the best, the worst, the turn-downs, and the chances. I hope that one day race will not be a issue on the determination on a persons beauty or fashion. There is beauty and disgust within every face or stitch of fabric. A bit off topic though, I strongly encourage all black women to embrace our beauty and withstand the statistics and percentages. We deserve to be on that runway and in the stores just much as anyone. Our strength ,range of colors and downright charisma can overcome any setback. It is time to live and strut. beyond the stereotypes. My black is beautful. xoxo
