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'Why are our catwalks so white?'
By Sri Carmichael Last updated at 12:52pm on 11.02.08
New face: model Jourdan Dunn
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."
Reader views (12)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I just want to make it clear, not everyone wants to be white or blonde. That's why white people spend hours tanning their skin. I am a black, successful lady. I think it's about time that idea was removed from people's heads. Brunette's are the new blonde. All the celebrities seem to be getting ride of the blonde look.
Keep up the good work Jourdan Dunn.
- Yvee, Melbourne, Australia
It's a shame. Black people are beautiful. Asian people are beautiful. I think people just aspire to be loved for who they are; they don't want to look like someone they're not and the fashion industry needs to get that into their heads.
- Vitamincpingu, UK
It's important to look at this issue in a broader context- in the context of the uk, following the logic of the person who commented that most of the population of the country is white and so this should be reflected in the fashion world, it must then be conceded that 8/9% of the country is still ethnic minority, so why aren't 8/9% of our catwalk models ethnic minority?... why isn't 8/9% of the HoC ethnic minority?... obviously this is a very simplistic point, but nonetheless it highlights the inherent race problems within the uk...
weight and height etc are an entirely different issue and different type of discrimination, so trying to amalgamate the problems of racial discrimination within the fashion industry with these is purely counter-productive and only effective in diluting the issue...
also on the subject of representation is the international problem; white people may make the majority of the UKs population but they in no way make up the majority of the world population, but yet all over the world we are confronted with images in magazines, on billboards etc of white women, this is in no way representative and simply shows a trend and aspiration that needs to be broken.
Jourdan Dunn is stunning, this is why she has been tipped as the next big British supermodel, and not just the next 'black' britsh supermodel, i just hope her presence in the fashion world inspires more designers and advertisers etc to use more ethnic minority models instead of the existing tokenism!
- Cassey, Manchester
I absolutely love Jourdan Dunn. In addition to her stunning features, she is outspoken of the unjust racial inequality the fashion industry has created and continues to perpetuate. Ms. Dunn is wise far beyond her years and she continues to speak out despite the ignorant comments such as the one previously written by Robin Hunter of Sutton UK. I think Dunn is that ray of light that aspiring models of African American influence, like myself, need to see in order to continue pressing towards the goal. You better go Jourdan!
- Essence Danielle, Augusta, USA
Why do you never see old people advertising 'coco pops'
Blatant unashamed ageism!
- Steve, London
I tend to agree with Robin's point, but also wonder who gives a monkey's? Is it aspirational to look like Ms Campbell or indeed to behave like her? Rather ask about more High Court Judges or Surgeons or Airline pilots.
- Peter Bench, London
London is not a white city - well said darling so lets have more fat models then eh lets have more spotty ones as well right and how about some over 40 year olds would you approve Jourdan no didn't think so.
Be like Naomi take your money and run.
- Robin Hunter, Sutton UK
The stylist is right, and no it was not a racist comment - its a fact. The fact that Naomi Campbell is the only really successful black British model speaks volumes. Its not 'just a trend', its been going on for years. Would Jourdan have been picked for Kate Moss's collection if someone other than Kate was in charge of her collection? I think not. Wake up people and face reality!
- Karen, London UK
It's just a trend
People certainly do not all aspire to be white blond and thin!
That was plainly a racist comment.
The designers are displaying an appalling lack of creativity and imagination with this current preference for anorexic skinny pale models. Variety is the spice of life, People come in all shapes and sizes
Will they buy something that only looks good on a pale anorexic skinny blond model?
Or something that looks good on everyone?
- Jon, London
Sadly, Ms Dunn's comments seem to confirm the common misconception that models are none too clever.
She seems to completely miss the point that the business she is in discriminates against everyone that doesn't fit into a very narrow physical category (and one that changes from year to year)...it's shallow, and appearance-driven by nature, and that, perversely, is why people love it. This isn't racism, it's just the nature of modelling/fashion. Most of us would be rejected from the catwalk because of the way we look (I certainly would).
The fashion business is completely the wrong place to kindle a debate about racism.
- M, London
"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." That's not racist that makes business sense, what would be the point of advertising if no one bought the items because they don't like the way they are displayed.
As for this model, she says that London is not a white city, but London is not the whole of the UK and surely they want to reflect the majority of the UK population who are still white.
- David Brubaker, London, UK
She said it herself: "it is all about what sells clothes". What could be more transparent and objective?! She was not very good that is all.
- Georgie, Islington, London
