On the Runway

Lately, I've been doing a lot more reading than writing. Over the weekend I read an article in Ebony about the lack of black models, both male and female, on the runway during fashion week. Not only was there an absence of black models, there were absolutely no other nationalities strutting the fabulous duds that many of us drool over.


I searched google for the story to post on my blog when I came across other recent articles on the same subject. Reuters even posted a story. Click here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1145982120080912

How amazing is it that people are starting to take notice of discrimination in the fashion industry. However, this realization comes a little too late. Tyra Banks did a special about black women's lack of presence not only on the runway, but also in movies, on television, on magazine covers and in the corporate world. She had different celebrities talk about their experiences and certain people, like Nia Long, who discussed how hard it is for her to not get typed cast...etc...

Just some of my own observations, Elle, is one of my favorite magazines to read, it appeals to me, and I've been a subscriber for over 4 years now. However the covers are always the same celebrities or people. Jessica Simpson has been on the cover about 4 times in the past 3 years. Beyonce, only once. I don't know how you feel, but I think Beyonce is a much bigger star and would sell more magazines than Jessica on the cover. Alicia Keys was on the cover once too. Rhianna, once as well. Yet, Jessica Simpson has been on more covers...it baffles me.


Unfortunately, I have yet to boycott the magazine, because I always felt like fashion has no color. Yet, here I am talking about the discrimination, and I do take notice of the covers.

Around the time Dream Girls was up for the Oscar nomination, and Jennifer Hudson won for best supporting actress, she was on the cover of Vogue. I think it was one of the first times that a non-skinny woman was on the cover, and she doesn't look like the every day idea of, "black beauty"- meaning she is not light skinned, with light eyes, and blonde dyed hair, but I've digressed. I don't know how well the magazine sold, but the following month or so, when I excitedly opened my shiny new subscription, of Vogue, there were letters from readers who were outraged. One person wrote about how they didn't understand why Vogue chose Jennifer Hudson for the cover. The person wrote, all they did was slap on a couture gown, stilettos and a wavy weave, and all of a sudden she became a model. They wrote that she did not deserve to be on the cover of such a prestigious magazine like Vogue. They have yet to put another black woman on the cover.

Now, back to the Ebony story, which went in depth about the designers who have NEVER used a black model in any of their run way shows. Many of these labels/designers have been around for decades. It bothers me that something I love so much, fashion, hates/discriminates against me, in more ways than one. What hope do young black models have in this world? To never be able to walk in a runway show, unless its for Hip Hop clothing, or to never be on the cover, unless its Essence or Ebony. Not that its bad to support your own, I do, because I also subscribe to those magazines.


When I view my Essence and my Elle, the thickness of the two magazines is incomparable. Essence has hardly any advertisers, while Elle's first 50 pages are advertisements. I don't know how Essence is going to survive, yet it has so far. My love for fashion and clothes goes beyond models, because I don't need to see other people wearing it to want it. I wonder what will happen in the future. Why is it such a big deal to book models of color? I don't even have anything else to say on the matter at this time. Read the article, look at the evidence for yourself.