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Jezebel recently analyzed the September issues of ten fashion magazines in search of black models who scored their own fashion editorials. Aside from
Kelly Moreira who graced 8 pages in
Teen Vogue,
Chanel Iman who appeared on 8 pages in
Allure,
Georgia Badiel on 10 pages in
Elle, and
Lyndsey Scott in
W, most magazines, including
Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Glamour, Lucky, and
Cosmopolitan, neglected to feature a black model carrying an editorial by themselves:
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Why was it important for black models to go it alone? Jezebel said, "A fashion magazine uses its glossy fashion editorial pages to announce what is beautiful, fashionable, and "now." When only white models are utilized in the highly desirable September feature fashion shoots, the message being sent is that to be beautiful, fashionable and "now," you can't be black."
The story doesn't count celebrities (like
Halle Berry on
Vogue's September Cover) because Jezebel's editors maintain that somehow these stars, though black, have very light skin and straightened hair. Their apparently appearance underscores the beauty of mainstream white features, and therefore is not a true reflection of diversity. It's unclear why
Jezebel chose not to count editorials that included models of all colors, like Vogue's "We are the World" editorial featuring
Joan Smalls and
Jourdan Dunn or
Sessilee Lopez's shoot in
Glamour with Tommy Hilfiger.
When talks first began about increased diversity in fashion, advocates were decrying the complete exclusion of minorities in fashion magazines and on runways. Now, even though magazines are making steps in the positive direction (the September issue of Vogue is very diverse--down to advertisements featuring Joan Smalls and Namik Minter), outlets continue to cast a very critical eye. Is it really important for magazines to feature black models on their own or is it ok to feature a diverse cast of colors and racial backgrounds?
