Model Diversity UpdateMilan Welcomes Whitey Back

And we were doing so well.
A cursory observation would show that black models who have improved their visibility on the runway in New York hit a roadblock in Milan. Our statistics come from Style.com which routinely identifies models' names in its show coverage. Ironically, the home of Italian Vogue, which highlighted the topic with its "Black Issue" last year, has not been hospitable to models of color. Once again, Prada, arguably the city's most influential label, put on a show without a single black model, along with Jil Sander and Ferré. The two most popular black models, Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman have done a respective 7 and 5 shows in Milan so far compared to at least 20 and 11 shows in New York. Sessilee Lopez appears not to have done a single show in Milan, after around 20 in New York, making us wonder if she even made the trip there at all. Similarly other emerging faces like Georgie Badiel, Kinée Diouf and Aminata Niaria who were busy in New York were conspicuously absent, and Gracie Carvalho has made only a single trip down a runway at Albino. New star Arlenis Sosa has done only Bottega Veneta and Blumarine's shows. Inadian born Lakshmi Menon has done only Etro and Blumarine, and even Giorgio Armani put on an uncharacteristically all-white show.
Asian models have fared somewhat better, with the sleekly bobbed favorite Tao Okamoto doing 8 shows so far.
We hope that things will improve in Paris where Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Givenchy have been far more broad in their casting choices, but on the diversity front, Milan has been a disappointment where several journalists have been commenting that the relentless parade of nondescript eastern European teenagers is draining shows of much needed excitement.
UPDATE:
On the very last day of Milan's shows, Aminata Niaria made it down the runway twice at Fendi. It was her only major Milanese show. We don't know if it was an arranged exclusive or if it was the only house that was interested in her, but a nod from Fendi creative director Karl Lagerfeld is an immeasurable boost for any model. Perhaps we will see more of her in Paris. The show also included an appearance by curvy former Calvin Klein muse Jessica Miller. Perhaps things are moving in s healthier direction in general when it comes to models.

Comments

[ModelMania]

Sessilee mentioned on her FaceBook that she would miss Milan for some big campaign and to shoot Harper's.

[Besarien]

By titling this piece "Milan Welcomes Whitey Back" you were hoping to accomplish what exactly?

I think you've abdicated from the moral highground.