"Blue-eyed blondes have always been the dream type. It's as simple as that...A beautiful African woman is not the dream type, neither is a Tibetan or a Chinese princess. The number of non-white models parading on catwalks will always be extremely limited."
This is what Renee Dujac-Cassou of Crystal modeling agency in Paris is quoted as saying in this article about discrimination on the catwalks.
I think Renee may be a little disillusioned by what the "dream" actually is. The dream is not to be a blue-eyed blonde. The dream is to be able to wear what is sent down the runway. The dream is to have the lifestyle that goes along with having designer clothing. It doesn't matter which model is wearing it.
Well, fashion historian Lydia Kamitsis would probably disagree with the above statements. Here is what she said in the article:"The market for fashion goods, emerging nations such as China, Russia, the Arab world, are countries that are not specially known for favouring social or cultural mixes...White models are without a doubt the easiest ways of attracting these clients."
That may have been the case in previous decades, but I think people's perceptions are changing. You can't say that this is how it's been in the past, so this is how it will always be.
Times are changing...
If you liked this post, you may want to check out What Can We Do About Diversity on the Runways?
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