On The Colour of Beauty

Published May 11, 2010 | By clandestinechic

I first found this short documentary, The Colour of Beauty, over at Jezebel and became completely mesmerized during the entire 17:48 minute video. This video follows Renee Thompson, a model who is navigating her way through the fashion industry as a model. Renee, 24, wants to make it “big” as a model and knock ‘em dead at Fashion Week. She feels it’s coming down to the wire as is an older model. Another thing? She is a black model. As interesting and cool as Renee is, it is the fashion insiders that make powerful (and hurtful) statements about minority models trying to make it.

It’s hurtful as a woman with “big lips” and a larger nose to hear that your features are not desirable. Or to hear that some designers straight out do not want black girls in their shows. Â Or if a black girl is hired, she has to be”like a white girl dipped in chocolate” as one client put it.

I know this issue is brought up time and time again and I debated posting this video, because it can seem like beating a dead horse. Yes, we know there is a problem with lack of diversity on the runways, but will there ever be enough done to see more diversity on the runways?

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http://breakfastatsaks.blogspot.com/ Ashley

"Or if a black girl is hired, she has to be ”like a white girl dipped in chocolate” as one client put it."

That is disturbing, but thinking about it, you can really see how that is true for the few African American models that are featured on the runways and in magazines. The girl in this documentary is absolutely stunning, but instead of focusing on her perfect face and ridiculously long legs, it's always 'oh her booty is too big', and she's scared of not being able to fit in to the jeans. Really depressing.

Kudos to ideeli and Acne for appreciating her, but I mean it's just like the "black issue" of Vogue – I'm not sure it's enough to change anything. Glad you posted this documentary though, it definitely isn't beating a dead horse, because it's all too easy to push this issue into the background.
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http://intensedebate.com/people/ClandestineChic ClandestineChic

I also give many kudos for Acne and Ideeli for appreciating her and being able to look past what's essentially "in" and see a girl who can wear clothes, but you are right that that it's not enough to change much. Both are more niche brands and not necessarily "huge", but I guess it's a step forward?

I agree that it is just really depressing!
http://breakfastatsaks.blogspot.com/ Ashley

Ugh so depressing! Thanks for responding though
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http://www.innyvinny.com Alicia

I don't think we're going to see any shifts for a long, long, long time. Fashion didn't start out as a democratic, representative institution and is taking a while to modernize as more and more people gain access to it.
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http://intensedebate.com/people/ClandestineChic ClandestineChic

I totally agree that there won't be any shifts for awhile. I think the frustrating thing is that the fashion industry as a whole tends to pats itself on the back for being more "forward thinking", but in this case and in the case of other minorities (plus sized models for another) it's hardly modern. The guy in the doc who said that the industry seems to be stuck in 1955 was really on point.
http://www.strutt-mode.blogspot.com Ella

It's sad but true. A friend of mine is a model and models for numerous fashion and lifestyle magazines. she isn't signed to an agency, but after being told to do so she went on a couple of meetings with some top agencies. However, she was told her "look" wasn't the look they were going for and/or they already had a girl like her on their books *rollseyes*
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On The Colour of Beauty

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