Cameras flashing and fans are screaming your name while reporters are asking “who are you wearing?” You’re sipping on champagne and walking to your front row seat at London Fashion Week. Have you ever walk up to a door and always wonder what's going on behind it? In 2017 models still face issues regarding racial and body diversity and the time has come to create an change.
Racial diversity has been happening inside the industry for decades even up until today which is very disappointing. I was watching a movie on Netflix called “Supermodel”. She was invited to a photoshoot from an individual she meets at a mixer. Once she arrived at the photo shoot the next day there was a sign on the door that said: “No black models allowed.” This is very disturbing because even if the sign said no biracial models or Asian models allowed, why does the color of your skin determine your opportunity. This can affect models self-esteem and mental thought. Precious Lee had to change her name to Victoria because it sounded more non-urban. They asked her what her background was. She responded that she has worked with Macy’s and Nordstrom but they were really asking what her race was. “I’m black,” she said. “Oh, you're black? You're so pretty. When she responded I felt her emotion when she said: “ I didn't know black was not pretty”. Every skin shade is beautiful and should not be discriminated because when you cut your wrist we all bleed the same blood.
Christian Siriano's NYFW S/S 17 line. Siriano's designs are the Style Me Curvy dream with so much attention to women's shapes and various frames.
Another issue is body diversity. Now just to give a little detail from my background. I use to model and started in the 6th-grade modeling with high school students in Macy’s, huge colleges, and cities parades. Being a very thickset girl and having a low self-esteem, modeling built up my confidence to love my body. Now to see models such as Precious Lee, Stella Duval, and Renee Peters that are being told that you are too big meaning you won’t get a particular gig you always wanted due to your size or when you're so anxious to be very skinny like the other models and only developed anorexia and bulimia to fit in the "every one image". Karlie Kloss said, “ I don’t want to please anyone but myself.” I couldn't say it any better. As women, we have to learn how to love ourselves instead of trying to compare or sculpt our bodies to an Instagram model looks or for someone who wants us to fit their image.
Tricia Campbell being bold, daring to be sexy, being true to herself .
I find it distasteful that models have to go through these complications but models have the chance to make a change to these circumstances. Let’s start a new beginning to let the world hear our voices to make a change in the fashion industry! We don't want our future generation of models to face these same challenges. Lavish Dolls please leave your comments, likes, and share. Let's begin a movement to voice to all womenkind of all shades, shapes, and disabilities deserve an opportunity in the fashion industry. Use hashtags #1Fashion1Love and #LavishDolls on your social media platforms.