The world of high fashion may have begun to embrace models from all ethnic backgrounds, but according to supermodel Naomi Campbell, there is still a long way to go.
England, UK, April 29, 2009 — In a recent interview in Glamour magazine, Campbell spoke candidly about how she has to work harder than her Caucasian colleagues to be treated equally.
She has worked hard to establish her very successful modelling career, but she believes that favouritism for “blond, blue-eyed models” over women of colour in general is still all too common in the fashion industry.
“You know, the American president may be black, but as a black woman, I am still an exception in this business. I always have to work harder to be treated equally,” she says. “In magazines, on the catwalk, I see blond, blue-eyed models everywhere.”
The issue of racial discrimination in the fashion industry has long been a hot topic. While a number of black women have managed to launch high profile successful modelling careers, for example Campbell, Liya Kebede, Tyson Beckford, Noemi Lenoir and Chanel Iman, white models still make up the vast majority of catwalk models.
It is clear that while breakthroughs have been made in the past, the fashion industry is still a long way from fully embracing and reflecting modern society’s ethnic diversity.
Things are a little better in other areas of the modelling industry outside high fashion, according to Managing Director at UK modelling agency Models Direct Damian O’Connor.
“We have all kinds of clients from small advertisers, to big advertising agencies, to government organisations,” says O’Connor. “What we’ve really noticed over the last couple of decades is that advertisers are taking more care to reflect the mix of people in society in their images. It’s a way to create empathy with their multicultural audience.”
“This means there are great opportunities for people of all ethnicities and ages who want to become a model,” he says.
Further links/information:
* To find out more about Models Direct: http://www.modelsdirect.com/
* Find out about how you could become a model: http://www.modelsdirect.com/locations/worldwide.html
* To find a model for your business: http://www.modelsdirect.com/find_a_model/index.html
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