If you think the life of a model includes endless pampering, a team doing your hair and makeup, and everyone clamoring to help you look runway-ready, think again.
Victoria’s Secret model Leomie Anderson took to Twitter this week, the start of London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2016, to highlight some inequality happening backstage at fashion shows. Leomie says that while white models are being done up to the nines, she’s left to supply her own foundation.
Why is there more white makeup artists backstage than black when when black ones can do ALL races makeup?
— l. anderson (@Leomie_Anderson) February 17, 2016
Why is it that the black makeup artists are busy with blonde white girls and slaying their makeup and I have to supply my own foundation 😒
— l. anderson (@Leomie_Anderson) February 17, 2016
Jeez. You would think a model who has worked with brands like Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, and more can get her makeup done like the rest of the models.
It doesn’t end at the makeup – hair stylists are unfamiliar with black hair too.
Why is there only ever one black hairdresser backstage yet they need four hairdressers to inspect my weave?
— l. anderson (@Leomie_Anderson) February 17, 2016
Fellow British model Jourdan Dunn has stated in the past that “most hairdressers still don’t know what to do with Afro hair.” Sometimes, they end up damaging it.
IMO, true hairstylists should know how to work with hair of every race, every texture, every type at these kinds of events. And every model should look equally boss.
