A London teenager hailed as the next Naomi Campbell spoke out today about the lack of black models on the catwalk.
Jourdan Dunn, 17, who designers are clamouring to hire during London Fashion Week, says the runways should reflect the city's ethnic diversity.
She said: "London's not a white city so why should our catwalks be so white? I go to castings and see several black and Asian girls, then I get to the show and look around and there's just me and maybe one other coloured face.
"They just don't get picked. I hope it's because the designer just didn't think they were good enough as a model but I don't know."
Jourdan, who lives with her mother and two younger brothers in Greenford, west London, was spotted by agency Storm while trying on sunglasses in the Hammersmith Primark.
The current face of Gap, the 5ft 10in teenager was picked by Kate Moss to launch her Christmas Topshop collection last year and has appeared on New York catwalks and the pages of US Vogue.
But a fashion stylist for a top women's magazine said the industry was weighted against non-white models.
The woman, who said she would lose her job if she was named, said: "It's all about what sells clothes, and people aspire to be white, blonde and thin, so there we go. We're being naive if we say that's not racist."
10 comments:
She looks like Campbell, that's for sure.
Love her!
She is really pretty.
Love her. thanks for posting.
i love her!!!!she is one of my fav model for fall!!!!
She's a great new face and fantastic.
Um I would still buy clothes if they weren't showcased on a white model..but then again I'm Asian so I don't know
which magazine did this come from?
Diversity is frankly a very important question, unfortunately also in France . . .
BUT YES, THe "Feline-issime" Miss Dunn seems to be "made for catwalks" !!!
A Bientot, Antoine
Its sad and pathetic how closed minded the Fashion Industry is. But I think most young girls would buy pretty clothes no matter whose wearing it.Plus, at least in Toronto, it ain't black girls wearing Baby Phat. 'Nough said.
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