Are black models irrelevant?

Lets face it. There is more racial diversity at a Trump rally than there is on the runway. It is not a secret that white models have completely dominated the fashion shows. The lack of models of color has always been a hot topic in the fashion industry. But recently, there has been a great influx of dark skin models in this year alone. One of these models is Anok Yai, a 19 year old Sudanese woman. This year alone she has been featured in over thirty runway shows. Grace Bol, Thom Browne, Shanelle Nyasiase have also modeled in fashion shows ranging from Givenchy to Versace.

The Canadian magazine Flare reported the influx of POC (people of color) at fashion shows around the world. New York is in the lead with 37.3 percent of it’s models being people of color. It is incredible how quickly Black women have been integrated into fashion shows this year. This could be foreshadowing bigger things in store for women of color. Maybe this influx will continue and potentially start a bigger movement. Women of color could be on the rise and eventually halt the endless white washing of not only the fashion industry, but Hollywood as well. But it also raises the question ‘are Black women once again being exocitized’?

It’s well known that black people have been exoticized in the media before and used because they are viewed as “trendy” and “cool” compared to their white counterparts. With the sudden rise of black models on runways all at once, it should be questioned if there is really any influence from it. Are model casting crews suddenly actively color conscious in order to help diversify their productions or using Black models because it’s what the other fashion houses are doing in order to get publicity and look popular?

The phrase “follow the money” means satisfy the consumer with what they want. It is common knowledge that in advertising in order to appeal to your target audience you must use actors/models who look like them. Every year the amount of disposable income in Black households increases which results in money being spent on entertainment and clothing. Could the fashion houses be acknowledging this fact and ceasing the opportunity to make more money by utilizing Black models?

It’s amazing that black women are finally being represented on the runway! But before rejoicing at this triumph it’s important to analyze the underlying motives. There has never been an easy victory for black people in representation or social justice; there could be multiple factors that attributed to the influx of black models on the runway. Especially with the release of Black Panther embracing Black culture. The day that diversity will run the runway is going to come, but is that day today?