The runways at New York’s Fashion Week were tread by 2,278 models, of which fewer than 300 were minorities.
However, in the run-up to their shows, some fashion designers predictably lamented the white state of modeldom:
Earlier this week, fashion designer Peter Som and casting director Jennifer Venditti stood in his office studying five photos of pale, thin teenage girls with dirty-blond hair.
“Weird,” said Mr. Som, scanning the teens in the photos. “They’re all the same.”
…
After casting the two blondes, Mr. Som asked Ms. Venditti how many ethnic models were on the roster. She told him there were four — two black and two Asian — out of a then-selected cast of 18. “I do not want an all-white cast,” he says. “But there’s always room for improvement.”
In the end, he replaced one of those minority models with another pale blonde, resulting in a ethnic cast of 3 wearing his clothes.
Other runways didn’t fare any better: Calvin Klein’s only black model (out of 21) was Liya Kebede, Donna Karan had only Chanel Iman, and Jill Stuart went 0 for 20. And these are all designers who’ve paid lip service to diversity on the catwalks.
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Liya Kebede is so hot. Should have an accompanying photograph for this article.
I definitely feel ethic models do need to get recognized more, as we are just as talented as the pale, thin teenage girls with dirty-blond hair.
And I pray to god we will be the first lol
Tyra bank and Naomi Campbell have done it…See it shows it can be done!
I am a white gay guy and am not so high on fashion and all.but i am offended with all white girls, my friends are all but those girls…Its Bs thats what that is…are we all to buy into this idea that if we buy the bs clothes we will look like them…comes down to guys fashion as well…gym freak next to gym freak…some of us have other things to do in life