Is Fashion Racist?

Many fashion executives and insiders try to deny it, but whether or not they speak of it, racism is present in the fashion world. In an email to Iman, the prominent African-American model, Bethann Hardison, a model agent, questioned, "Did you realize that over the last decade, black models have been reduced to a category?"

The catwalks at high fashion runway shows today are filled with the white, Eastern European models that are popular right now with designers. And while there is no question that the models are beautiful, many people are asking, "Wheres the diversity?"

While in most of the United States, diversity has increased since the seventies and eighties. However, in the world of high fashion models and designers, diversity has actually decreased. Whereas there used to be a plentiful amount of black models walking the runways, now designers only have one or two in a show. Model booker Neil Hamil was quoting as saying when asked about casting black models, "Well, we already have our black girl."

Co-founder of Premier Model Management, Carole White, was quoted as saying, "According to magazines, black models don't sell." White continued, "People don't tend to talk about it, but black models have to be so beautiful and perfect because we can't have a lot of diversity with black models; it's harder work for the agency because there's not so much on offer. White models can have more diversity."

However, just because there is a lack of diversity on runways does not mean there are no ethnic models. There is Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Selita Ebanks, and Chanel Iman. But the fact is that diversity is so far and few between, that unless you already have a name for yourself, it is nearly impossible to earn a living as an African American model.