Beautiful South Sudanese model, Nykhor Paul took to her Instagram yesterday evening to tell the fashion industry to do better when it comes to backstage beauty and preparing black models’ faces for the catwalk.
Alluding to the racism she’s faced as a model of colour, the short-haired talent posted a black and white selfie to her page, captioning;
“Dear white people in the fashion world!
Please don’t take this the wrong way but it’s time you people get your shit 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 wtf!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, shit we started fashion in Africa and you modernize and copy it! Why can’t we be part of fashion fully and equally?”
Ms Paul has been a successful star in the modelling world so far, having shot with Elle South Africa, Glamour Magazine South Africa and walked for top designers John Galliano and Haider Ackerman. She also recently shot with i.D Magazine for their July’15″No-Makeup is the Best Make-up” editorial, where her skin looked its usual, sublime self.
The outburst has so far gathered over 700 comments, with most of her followers in complete support of her statement – but tell us what you think to Nykhor Paul’s insight into the industry’s racism and its professionals’ treatment of the model, in the comments box or online @SPICETVAFRICA.
Image source: @Nykhor, I-device.com
