Sao Paulo Fashion Week Protestors Call For 20 Percent Quota Of Black Models

Protestors at this season's Sao Paulo Fashion Week called for a 20 percent quota of indigenous and black models to be used on the event's runways, the Guardian reports.

Back in 2008, the BBC wrote that only 28 out of 1,128 models booked for Sao Paulo Fashion Week that year were black. As one modeling agent said, "The black models can't get jobs and have no access, don't have a good distribution of money or earnings and live in a sub-world, because there are no job opportunities."

And the New York Times reported on the issue last summer, writing, "70 percent of the country's models come from three southern states that hardly reflect the multiethnic melting pot that is Brazil, where more than half the population is nonwhite." Erika Palomino, a fashion consultant in Sao Paulo, told the newspaper, "I was always perplexed that Brazil was never able to export a Naomi Campbell, and it is definitely not because of a lack of pretty women. It is embarrassing."

Organizers previously agreed to a 10 percent quota of black models. But the plan apparently unraveled this time around, with designers ignoring the modish minorities altogether.

Activist Frei Davi Santos explained to the Guardian:

"Sao Paulo fashion week sells the image of a Swiss Brazil where everyone is white and blue-eyed. The organizers...forget that more than half of Brazil's population is black....According to the latest census we blacks represent 50.8% of the Brazilian population. This means an event which presents a majority of people with typically European characteristics does not represent the beauty and wealth of Brazilian ethnicity. Brazil is a country that still insists on emphasizing its European side and discriminating against its beautiful indigenous and Afro-Brazilian populations. We do not want catwalks that look like catwalks in Switzerland or England."

The latest outcry about diversity on the catwalk comes less than a week after Carole White, Premier Model Management founder and Naomi Campbell's former agent, told the Daily Mail that European cities like Milan and Paris were to blame -- "There, they absolutely don't want black girls. A black model has to be a real star before you can take her there. They only take a black girl when the biz is buzzing about her."

Comments

[theroundearth]

11:53 AM on 06/23/2011

No human has BLACK, or WHITE, skin. Putting these color labels on people is racist.

[lolaturgrave]

08:53 PM on 06/22/2011

Check out the DNA study on Brazil's population, "IN SPITE OF RACIAL DIVERSITY, EUROPEAN GENETIC ANCESTRY PREDOMINATES IN BRAZIL"

http://en.mercopress.com/2011/02/28/in-spite-of-racial-diversity-european-genetic-ancestry-predominates-in-brazil

[lyric220]

01:12 AM on 06/23/2011

AND? it doesn't change the fact that people with darker skin, people of color, who make up the majority of the population are underrepresented in brazilian fashion week. model scouts are SPECIFICALLY going to 3 distinct areas in brazil searching for lighter skinned, stereotypically european looking models. so what are you getting out of trying to deny that discrimination based on skin color exists? we know that race is a social construct and that genetically speaking humans share about 99% of the same dna, but is that stopping racism from happening? not at all. which is why they are trying to implement this rule.

[Commentingoutofboredom]

03:38 AM on 06/23/2011

Why does anyone care how a fashion show runs itself? It is a private business, they are allowed to do as they please with their selective process. The Brazilian fashion show doesn't need to cater to demographic proportions. If they want a certain image, let them, its their event.

[fredly2]

05:32 PM on 06/22/2011

And reserve 20% for white Musicians and singers.

[Aitch5]

05:07 PM on 06/22/2011

http://jezebel.com/5813385/beachwear-so-bright-you-gotta-wear-shades?comment=40218377#comments
Gorgeous Black Model at Sao Paulo Fashion Week

[Quest2011]

02:59 PM on 06/21/2011

Will they reserve 20% for models over size 4 too?

[Kmaster]

02:23 PM on 06/21/2011

Its ashame when a fashion show is in a predominantly black and latin country and we're still forced to have to look at white women. OK, I can understand if we're forced to look at them here in American since the Media is run by white people who only wants to represent the most beautiful of the white race, but come on, even in Brazil?!!! Sadness

[Hmm88]

02:35 AM on 06/22/2011

"In a predominantly black and Latin country" Latin is an ethnicity based on language, it has nothing to do with race so that point is invalid. The country is not predominantly black either. Approximately 43% of Brazil is mixed raced with some African ancestry. Nearly 50% of Brazil is of predominantly European decent. In Brazil you have your blacks, mixed raced people, and whites. Followed by smaller groups of people such as indigenous people (Native Americans) and East Asians etc.

[davbrown]

10:00 AM on 06/22/2011

Fact remains that all those people you mentioned do not have white skin. So Brazil is at least 50% nonwhite.

[FiredUpRTG]

09:41 AM on 06/21/2011

Insecurity. The designers are afraid that Brazilian and other women of color will make the clothes look so good — especially colorful garments on dark skin — that no one else could wear it to the same effect.

[Haitiana4Obama]

09:16 AM on 06/21/2011

It's not just Brasil it's the entireity or Latin America which refuses to celebrate the beauty of out African roots and either perpetuate this Indio (expecially in D.R.) influences or outright deny any ancestry save the Spanish blood. It's a sad state of affairs in Latin America...just tune into Telemundo, Telefutura or Univision most of the prime roles are to the Blonde Blue eyed blanqitas (which represent maybe 10%) even when playing indeginous roles...anyone watch La Pola and notice how the girl turns from Indian to basically tanned as a an adult? It's creepy how messed up Latin America is when it comes to race, ethnicity, and beauty. Just saying.

[iamwomanofcolor]

06:29 PM on 06/22/2011

and i'm just saying that your comment is "spot on"! very very true truths... most folks everywhere throughout the world are sometimes ashamed of any skin that is darker than milk... they feel like lesser peoples... so glad to fan you on this thread!

[lyric220]

01:15 AM on 06/23/2011

YES! everything you said.

[At17teen]

04:40 AM on 06/21/2011

Each time, they bring new elements @_+

It's sunny day, you and me both can see it^ ^
http://www.re5keratin.com

[Fudgefase]

04:39 AM on 06/21/2011

There's no diversity in modelling - their elongated shape and proportions make them unrepresentative anyway. Why should skin colour or ethnicity be any different? They're a world of their own.

[writergal28]

08:22 AM on 06/21/2011

Exactly! That was what I was trying to say in my earlier post. I don't think people quite got it.

[Quest2011]

03:01 PM on 06/21/2011

yup. Reserve 20% for curvy women too :-)

[Kmaster]

03:56 AM on 06/21/2011

About time. I love watching runway shows on television and frankly, no offense, but I get so tired of looking at frail, not-so-beautiful white women all the time. I would love more diversity whether its asian, brazilian, or black. Geesh.

[new beginning]

08:56 AM on 06/21/2011

You prefer to look at frail not so beautiful black women?

[Kmaster]

02:15 PM on 06/21/2011

Yes, anybody other than white women ALL THE TIME. Its like its forced down our throats on a daily bases when there are beautiful women of all nationalitys that are never represented.

[Quest2011]

03:02 PM on 06/21/2011

Lol. Your sarcasm just went over kmaster's head :-)

[Kmaster]

03:48 AM on 06/21/2011

Obviously you're only knowledgable of what is portrayed on TV and the media. Try getting some real life experiences and you will see that there are PLENTY of beautiful and attractive women of all races that the media will never portray. The media always show the most beautiful of the white race, but the mediocre looking of all other races. Also, there are PLENTY of relationships that are had by people of the same race, whether, black, asian or brazilian. Just because you only see it in the media doesn't make it true.

[exhiliration]

05:25 AM on 06/21/2011

The black race has been maligned for along time. in time when china is reigning on the world stage I guarantee you that the most beautiful women will be black-haired, doe eyes with a slant, asian looking chicks. and white women will begin to grumble. People always want the thing that is most prized and what is most prized currently is what the world superiors say is most valuable. normally i would be angry with you for saying this. but its no use. I wish you 'd live a few hundred years and see how things change. then you'd be so upset over the way things are.

[Neil McCann]

01:24 AM on 06/21/2011

The fashion designers have a right to hire whomever they think will best appeal to their perspective clientle. 50% of Brazillians may be black, however 99,9% of the women who will be buying these fashions will NOT be of African decent. Quotas are noting but control over the sheep. How many whites are there in the NBA? Do you want a black pilot on your next trip, because the airline was forced to scheduled him based on his skin color? Why not an Iluit (Eskimo) pilot, or have the airline's mechanic be from Ubukistan? Where does this lunacy end?

[Red Rain]

03:01 AM on 06/21/2011

IT will end when we don't HAVE to ask these asinine questions. And really? NO ONE buys the fashions off the runway. Haute Couture designs are to draw a buyer to the designer's ready to wear line. The only time you see one of those pieces is when a model, singer or actress wears them to an event. And may I add that Rihanna wore Gaultier's white wedding dress that was modeled by Andrej Pejic, who may be of Croatian descent, but who looks European and is male?? Really, a male, who is actually prettier than a lot of women, gets a runway shot that women of color can't. And I like Andrej, I think he's amazing. But again, it says a lot about the state of the modeling industry. I don't want a quota, but I do want to see representations of women of color. I don't think that's too much to ask.

[writergal28]

08:28 AM on 06/21/2011

But not all runway pieces are Haute Couture. Many are RTW and people buy RTW.

[Knothare1230]

03:53 AM on 06/21/2011

"however 99,9% of the women who will be buying these fashions will NOT be of African decent." And I would like you to post were ever you got that figure from.
Completely false and I believe completely made up BS. As matter of fact Black Women spend way too much money on these chumps The fact of the matter is that we need to stop giving our money to these racists and start spending it where clothes from people like these aren't sold.

[Mav H]

01:08 AM on 06/21/2011

The designers are gonna pick what they want to pick. If a designer wants all white models or all asian models or all black models, etc. then so be it. This 20% is stupid. That's like saying the models have to be such and such tall and weight such and such weight (what i mean is across the board the models have to be the same.) These kinds of things will never happen. Some designers like very skinny models while other prefer "normal" size models and others prefer plus sized models. No one cries discrimination there. Where does it say that designers have to be equal opportunity "employers"? They don't... it's their clothes and their visions. They can chose the "hanger" they want their clothes on. What a stupid debate.

[Fudgefase]

04:45 AM on 06/21/2011

I think it might be partly about make up too. The pale skin is easier to paint on and show the colours than dark or black skin. It's just all image for the designers - they have their dippy ideas and dress the girls up to look like corpses or flowers or fairies or whatever they fancy for that show.

[FiredUpRTG]

09:38 AM on 06/21/2011

Disagree. Put a multi-colored jewel-toned garment on dark skin and see that dress POP. Perhaps the designers' wh it e customers would become very vocal if they find out it doesn't look as good on them.

[thudula]

01:06 AM on 06/21/2011

ITS ABOUT TIME COUNTRIES WIYH BLACK POPULATION INSIST ON 20% BLACK MODELS.
22 MILLION USA CITIZENS CANNOT FIND WORK. REGISTER TO VOTE and SPLIT YOUR VOTE. JOIN(www.numbersusa.org)