'African Queen' editorial uses white model
French fashion magazine features white teen model painted in blackface.
The fashion world has been known to push the boundaries of what’s socially acceptable and without a doubt, stir controversy.
In the March 2013 issue of Numéro magazine, 16-year-old white model Ondria Hardin appears drenched in a very deep bronze for a fashion spread called "African Queen,” reports Jezebel.com.
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Hello! This would have been the perfect opportunity to hire a black model, as there are fewer job opportunities for non-white models. Eighty-two percent of the models at New York Fashion Week this season were white, cites Jezebel.
More than 150 people have commented on author Laura Beck’s article, including this one from “fashionlady”
“Can I just say as a young black model (I'm a girl) having worked my ass for the past 3 years, this hurts my soul. I'm happy for Ondria as a person but the amount of times I have been told ‘oh sorry we already have a black girl that looks like you’ or ‘most of our clients dont hire black girls, sorry’ and then I see THIS, it pisses me off! There are so many beauitful black models out there working TWICE as hard for barely half the recognition and the only time they give a shit about us is when they need our dark skin for some ‘ethnic’ photo shoot and in this case with Ondria, they couldn't even be bothered. Can I see a black girl do SCANDANAVIAN PRINCESS please? Hmmm?”
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This is not the first incident a magazine has caused a cultural stir.
In 2009, Vogue was accused of racism for using photos of white model, Lara Stone, with her face and body darkened in brown make-up.
Do you think it’s okay to use a white teen model in an "African Queen" spread?
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First, this is not "Black Face" or racist in that sense. The fact that they "prefered" to use a white model is the problem I have. As hard as it is for the average black person to get into fashion modelling (you can check the percentatges), this could have been a big break for some upcoming young African/Afro-American/Black woman model.
Second, it somewhat is like the 4 Oscar-nominated, "Beasts of the Southern Wild". Most movie chains did not want to show it. A PG-13 southern fantasy, was too BLACK?
It is important to profit, but it is just as important to be fair. If we work just to make ourselvesd a profit, we aren't helping anyone else.In most religions this "Golden Rule" and giving back way of life is important.
Just be FAIR and SHARE!
Peace [:>)}
If a magazine does this and knows it is going to create a firestorm, they are smart....they get all the attention and sales for that issue.
Real issues like GMO's, poverty in America - while our elected officials shell out billions in foreign aid, women being murdered and raped all over the World and our youth tattooing themselves to death are not a concern.
Next, we will see white men, dressed as black women on the cover of every magazine and listen to all the women complain in unison!
Get over it, it is just an advertising scam!
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