Black model Nykhor Paul is outraged and fed up with the fashion world and is making her feelings known.
The South Sudanese model posted an open letter on her Instagram account Monday addressing all the “white people in the fashion world” — specifically makeup artists — who don’t know how to work with models who have darker complexions. The 25-year-old model, who has appeared in shows for Calvin Klein and Rick Owens, blasts the particularly unprofessional makeup artists who “try to make her feel bad” about her skin colour when they are unprepared with cosmetic hues that will match her skin tone. She asks, “Why do I have to bring my own makeup to a professional show when all the other white girls don’t have to do anything but show up?”
Dear white people in the fashion world! Please don’t take this the wrong way but it’s time you people get your $#!@ right when it comes to our complexion! Why do I have to bring my own makeup to a professional show when all the other white girls don’t have to do anything but show up! Don’t try to make me feel bad because I am blue black its 2015 go to Mac, Bobbi Brown, Makeup forever, Iman cosmetic, black opal, even Lancôme and Clinique carried them plus so much more. there’s so much options our there for dark skin tones today. A good makeup artist would come prepare and do there research before coming to work because often time you know what to expect especially at a show! Stop apologizing it’s insulting and disrespectful to me and my race it doesn’t help, seriously! Make an effort at least! That goes for NYC, London, Milan, Paris and Cape Town plus everywhere else that have issues with black skin tones. Just because you only book a few of us doesn’t mean you have the right to make us look ratchet. I’m tired of complaining about not getting book as a black model and I’m definitely super tired of apologizing for my blackness!!!! Fashion is art, art is never racist it should be inclusive of all not only white people, $#!@ we started fashion in Africa and you modernize and copy it! Why can’t we be part of fashion fully and equally?
Paul clearly doesn’t hold back. And the South Sudanese beauty, who is also a well-known human rights activist, isn’t alone in her struggle. She is just one in a chorus of black models who have bemoaned their experiences in the highly homogeneous fashion industry.
Supermodel Jourdan Dunn once dealt with a makeup artist who outright refused to work with her because of her skin colour. In addition, fashion icon Beverly Johnson was confronted with the same ignorance decades ago and would arrive at shoots with her hair already done and her own foundation in tow so she didn’t have to interact with makeup artists.
Clearly not much has changed over the years. But we’re glad Paul is bringing the issue back to the forefront. Let’s hope we don’t have to hear any more of these sad tales again.
Respect goes along way, and we all deserve some form of respect, don’t we? The story of Nykhor is sad because it is a form of disrespect. But what about the average person like you and I who aren’t necessarily glamorous and famous? We also suffer the tragedy of disrespect from time to time, and sometimes we’re the ones disrespecting others.
The lesson is clear. Whatever ignorance we have regarding skin colour, ethnic and cultural heritage, religion etc; the responsibility is on us to educate ourselves and become more informed on sensitive matters like these.
Credit: Edited // Huffington Post