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Naomi Campbell: "Black models are being sidelined"

ncampbellracist.jpgFed up with a lack of black models in the fashion industry, Naomi Campbell has spoken out about her frustration by criticising magazine editors. "Black models are being sidelined by the major modelling agencies,” she said at a press conference in Malindi, Kenya, where she is currently on holiday.

Five years after her last cover for British Vogue, Campbell highlighted the racial inequality amongst the fashion industry and the media. “I even get a raw deal from my own country. For example, I hardly come on the front pages of London’s Vogue magazine. Only white models, some of whom are not as prominent as I am, are put on the front pages," she said.

The 37-year-old is even contemplating setting up her own modelling agency in Kenya to redress the balance. She is expected to fly to Nairobi to scout for potential talent. "I don’t want to quit modelling until I find that black models get equal prominence and recognition by the world media and information instruments” she added.

The news comes shortly after Alex Wek reportedly claimed that a calendar she appeared in for a coffee company was racist. The calendar depicted the African model in a giant coffee cup.

"My skin was to be the expresso... I can't help but compare them to all the images of black people that have been used in marketing over the decades. There was the big-lipped jungle-dweller on the blackamoor ceramic mugs sold in the Forties; the golliwog badges given away with jam; Little Black Sambo, who decorated the walls of an American restaurant chain in the 1960s; and Uncle Ben, whose apparently benign image still sells rice," she said.

A spokesman for British Vogue said they had no comment in response to Campbell's accusations.

[Sources: The Telegraph / Femalefirst.co.uk]

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Posted by Kimberley Foster on August 21, 2007 1:10 PM in Fashion News| Model news
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Comments

Finally someone speaks out about it.. it's been well overdue. In fact there simply aren't enough "ethnic" models full stop.

Posted by: Aeriveh | August 21, 2007 2:43 PM

Or- she could be getting sidelined because she's a crazy person who attacks her PA and servants, and no one wants to work with her.

While I agree that there aren't enough black models out there, Naomi isn't the best spokesperson for this.

Posted by: Michele | August 21, 2007 3:05 PM

Where has everyone been? There has always been a gap for models of color in fashion for the longest time. Black was not considered beautiful by the industry for the longest time and some negativity still exist. Just to throw this in the air, does anyone agree that Rihanna could of been a "covergirl" long time ago.

Posted by: Menzie | August 22, 2007 3:24 AM

She sure is right.

Posted by: STell | August 24, 2007 1:02 PM

I'm so glad Naomi is speaking out about this. She truly is the perfect spokesperson for it. I am white, and I see it is a problem; there are barely any black models in the magazines I read, and honestly, I can't see why not. Not only that, but black skin seems like it would be the perfect advertisement for clothing. Colors pop out beautifully from their skin (I know that seems like an insignificant topic compared to the real issue, but it's another thing that makes you wonder about their lack of appearance in popular fashion magazines). I can't wait to see what happens with Naomi's possible modelling agency in Kenya. I think it could not only help create a more balanced fashion industry, but become a life changing experience for many deserving women.

Posted by: Lyza | September 7, 2007 3:37 PM

I am white and have long found it frustrating that the beautiful black and brown women I see on the streets are not reflected in the magazines. Naomi may suffer from her temper, but she is right. I know for a fact African fashion is on the rise, and I think Naomi is being a shrewed business woman by getting in on this with her talent agency.

Posted by: Frank | October 5, 2007 6:54 PM

It seems sad to think that it is necessary to fill quotas of particular ethnic groups .. just because there are so many of this or that color doesn't mean that we need to proverbially add more to equal things out ..there are allot of models who are considered black . Seem strange how Miss Campbell seems to forget that she is half Chinese and only speaks out about black issues.....where is her plea for more Asian models????....i think that point alone proves how racism stays alive because were afraid to say something is wrong if the person is considered black . Now make some statement that there aren't enough white people in this genre or this business and see how fast your sponsors drop you and your branded a racist ... double standards cant be allowed ,irregardless of the past.

Posted by: chris | January 19, 2008 10:35 PM

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