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Black Model Recreates Famous Fashion Campaigns To Highlight Lack Of Diversity In Fashion Industry
Deddeh Howard is a Liberian-born model based in LA, and she's hoping to raise awareness about the lack of diversity in the modeling and fashion industry with her new photo-project called Black Mirror. In it, she recreates some of the world's biggest fashion ad campaigns by taking the places of major fashion models such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Kate Moss, and Gisele Bundchen.
"I would walk into various fashion model agencies and I would immediately be compared to that one or two black models that they had on the roster," she writes on her website. "Even though I was told by those agencies that I have an amazing look and wish they could represent me, they already have a black model. Besides having an abundance of white models. It seemed as if one or two black models on the roster are enough to represent us all.
"For this project, I decided to re-shoot several of the inspiring and famous campaigns out there and try to show what they could look like with a bit of racial diversity. Why can’t the big brands not embrace our looks more and give all of us visibility? With this Black Mirror project, I hope to show the world that it is time for all of us being seen."
More info: Deddeh Howard | Instagram (h/t)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Chanel
Vikki Araiza 9 years ago
Every skin hue can sell anything, because it's really not about the color of their skin it's that look. If it was a black woman with a natural and a big butt, or a curvy Latin woman with a pot belly or a small petite Asian woman, then I we can argue the point of diversity. Tall, skinny and beautiful looks the same no matter what color that package comes in and that my friends is the real problem with fashion advertising.
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#2
Victoria's Secret
Johhn3443234523 9 years ago
And again someone see racism in next place. If you want equality we need in fashion models: 10% - chinese, 10% - india, 15% - arab, 50% - men, 20% - blonds, 40% - elderly people etc.
Karen thomisee 9 years ago
It's amazing that you comment on lack of diversity but on every pic you have a negative comment on the white model ...vs the " diversified " model...when b we have enough c**p b in this world today...we can't get along ..someone is going to play the race card....So opportunity is there to take it for all go work out beat the runways any agencies and go find the job instead oof run mm ibg up a riot....NC it's not a race thing ..it's called working for it..there are many diversified. .models out there you just choose to see with a blind eye...just learn be kind. ..to each other ..and we are ALL important. .
Yennie Pletl 9 years ago
I like the second one. She looks way series then the blonde girl withe the awkward smile
Marty BlackEagle-Carl 9 years ago
no one said Racism... look up the definition of racism.. this, it's called Lack of Diversity...
Maria Tugara 9 years ago
Everyone is beautiful can be used for anywhere in fasion. Depends on ur wishvision
Topher Ball 9 years ago
Wait.... Was Tyra Banks just a fever dream?! did i imagine her?! Has there never been a coloured Model?
Brent Swapp 9 years ago
She's hot. No thanks on the equity. I like standards of beauty instead.
#3
David Yurman
Chiranjeev Sharma 9 years ago
Am i the only one who feels the 2nd lady is way prettier than the rest of the models? NOt being biased or anything but she is gorgeous <3
Yennie Pletl 9 years ago
Both look good but the 2nd one looks better with the monochrome optic
#4
Vivara
Rodrigo Argenton 9 years ago
As a photographer I must say that you are wrong, Gisele is Gisele, this choice was too much for here, Gisele brings impact, power and the eyes is away more penetrating. Deddeh made the "girl next door face", not a "girl power"
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Ashley Phillips 9 years ago
Am I the only one that noticed how bad the photoshop job is on the right though? Look at the legs and stockings.
Aymee Tielman 9 years ago
Both are beautiful but have anyone noticed something weird on the black models left leg??? It looks like they haven't finished photoshopping it O_O
Brent Swapp 9 years ago
So she's copying other models on the cheap. It's smart but the message isn't there.
#5
Guess
Susan Williams 8 years ago
Not being racist at all but sometimes the choice of the model's coloring is just a question of design and the color balance in the picture. I think the first Guess picture works better too. Not so with some of the others.
Kay Kay Sancheese 9 years ago
I like the first one better just because it's more symmetrical than the second only because of the length of the 1st girls legs
Derrick Muniz 9 years ago
The long legs of the first one are key in this photo. I vote for the first one.
Kristiina Mahar 9 years ago
The black model is more photoshopped than the white one. Don't really like this one, sorry.
Jesse Smith 9 years ago
You look too classy for this pose - not that it's a bad pose, just doesn't suit you (hope you take my comments as being constructive).
#6
Calvin Klein
Johnny Keroscene 9 years ago
The original looks scared like "... Please.. Don't look..." and the second looks confident like "oh hello, I'll just be a moment".
Missy J. 9 years ago
Bullsh*t. The 2nd one shows an attitude. Kylie's scared look is intentional. LOL come on
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April Tarsetti 9 years ago
The second girl is pretty. But the first model makes the photo pop more
Sarah Lennie 9 years ago
Agreed. Nothing to do with skin colour, it's about the 'look' they're giving to the viewer.
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Ava Leora 9 years ago
The model in the first panel looks almost scared, second looks confident and beautiful, still both beautiful people
Ida Steen (Imezia) 9 years ago
I think the sexy look on second photo is overdoing it, more model-esque look seems better
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Tiona Foster 9 years ago
I like the second one. She's not photoshopped, and she has a confidence about her that the first one doesn't have.
#7
Gucci
Sarah Lennie 9 years ago
Not keen on either. Cheekbones are far too severe on first; unfortunately her swollen salivary glands stand out, some of us understand why.
April Tarsetti 9 years ago
The first model is too sickly pale And the second is too dark. Neither are hitting the mark on this one.
An Ambitious Lemon 9 years ago
One on the left looks like an extra on Twilight, the black model is totally rocking it.
Jessica Jane 9 years ago
Left one looks like she's going to be battling Neo, while the one on the right is on her way to a professional meeting :p
Yennie Pletl 9 years ago
The white girl needs something to eat. And the second one looks good but I look the original one better
#8
Dolce & Gabbana
blomgren182 9 years ago
Martin Luther king topic again. Honestly black /white/yellow/ whatever colour in the rainbow you are and can be beautiful
Twysted Jinx 9 years ago
Only 10%, give or take of the population in the US is black. So, based on that, in fairness only 10% of models should be black. Or TV leading actors. Or in movies. Forcing the issue is ridiculous, forcing the divide. Take the Magnificent Seven, the remake, the amount of diversity in the new 7 was hilarious. And forced.
Mihaela Chantova 9 years ago
You are beautiful but honey, every brand and look needs a wow effect and you are missing it in all of these. The product does not stand out as much. Every campaign has a look, and eventually you'll find yours but please don't make it about the race. People are just trying to turn you down politely.
Kristiina Mahar 9 years ago
Can't really love this one either. The black model has been way overphotoshopped again. Looks really, really fake.
Napo Allenius-Tapiovaara 9 years ago
I do get that spanish feeling in the first pic. The next doesn't have that feeling although it's a good one.
Florea Cristina 9 years ago
In this ad dolce also hase black women, asian, and brown colored.. she just chose a white girl
#9
Louis Vuitton
Florea Cristina 9 years ago
She is not even a model... and she is not tall. So, here you go, no discrimination to short persona!
Katie Smith 9 years ago
The lady on the right looks way better in that outfit! She's gorgeous.
Remco de Weerd 9 years ago
Well to be honest I think the origanal photo's looked better than the retaken photo's
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Hans 9 years ago
Hm...this is yhe world of avertising. Thus, I am rather skeptical whether this is about diversity. It seems to be clever self-marketing. (Do not get me wrong: I am not negative about the photos or the model at all. I just do ot buy the altruistic part of this.)
Bridgette David 9 years ago
The point of this photo shoot was to show that black women (darker skinned black women in particular) can achieve the same "looks" and convey the same emotions as white women. If you read the article she said that when she interviews with different modeling agencies she has been told that they already have their one or two black girls. So yes she is trying to drum up business, but not just for herself but for other women of color also. I think there is better motivation for this photo shoot than the outrageously provocative outfits that white celebrity women wear all the time just to get noticed and make more money.
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Maciek Ravs 9 years ago
Well there are parts of the World where majority people are black I guess you should do same article about that too.. Like why in Africa people want to read or watch movies about black people heh.. I think it is really normal if black people are just small percentage of some regions of the World that there will be small percentage them in media too..
Johhn3443234523 9 years ago
Nobody hired me as well. Why? Is it a discrimination? Nobody care about white men.
ksc 9 years ago
its not really a lack of diversity considering these advertisements target the biggest by farr! ethnic group in their own country. USA 62% white 13% black, UK 85% white 4% black :/ sure more representation would be nice and its not like their isnt any. Equal representation means only 13% of american media should have black actors or models ect. equal representation doesnt mean 50/50 their should be more latino representation than black considering theirs more of them in the country 18 %
Marika Moor 9 years ago
I like originals more. If she would have been originally there, it would have been as good in some cases, probably. I find that she lacks that something that makes models great, although she looks gorgeous.
Violaine LB 9 years ago
I agree, I think she is beautiful but looks a bit stiff, not as natural at posing as other models.
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Trish Dumlao 9 years ago
i'm not a racist but honestly brands and companies invest on a model that they think would sell their products effectively, black or white, doesn't matter. Rihanna has a lot of advertisements because she sells, and people need to know that it isn't about anything, this is 2016, slavery is so over and advertisements are just all about business, that's all there is to it.
orenji 9 years ago
Everything in the media is about race nowadays... so this article is no surprise. In the wise words of Morgan Freeman... race will stop being a problem when we stop talking about it and just see each other as individuals. Lets just appreciate both images. There are models of every color all over the world.
Svetlana Nagaeva 9 years ago
i feel like the light in all pics was for white model. Especially the last ones. So, to remake the ads all had to be changed. The background, earrings, even bicycle. There's no contrast, and image doesn't pop because of it. It's more about the colors of picture than about colors of model. Sometimes skin tone blends with the product, so you choose another model to highlight it. In fashion world divercity is more popular than anywhere esle, so it's about light, color and form. Not about race...
Mike M (OB1Coyote) 9 years ago
So, the alternative is to put more blacks in photos for the sake of having more blacks in photos...
Sara Fina 9 years ago
The alternative is to not always hire white models just because they are white.
Load More Replies...
Hans 9 years ago
Hm...this is yhe world of avertising. Thus, I am rather skeptical whether this is about diversity. It seems to be clever self-marketing. (Do not get me wrong: I am not negative about the photos or the model at all. I just do ot buy the altruistic part of this.)
Bridgette David 9 years ago
The point of this photo shoot was to show that black women (darker skinned black women in particular) can achieve the same "looks" and convey the same emotions as white women. If you read the article she said that when she interviews with different modeling agencies she has been told that they already have their one or two black girls. So yes she is trying to drum up business, but not just for herself but for other women of color also. I think there is better motivation for this photo shoot than the outrageously provocative outfits that white celebrity women wear all the time just to get noticed and make more money.
Load More Replies... Maciek Ravs 9 years ago
Well there are parts of the World where majority people are black I guess you should do same article about that too.. Like why in Africa people want to read or watch movies about black people heh.. I think it is really normal if black people are just small percentage of some regions of the World that there will be small percentage them in media too..
Johhn3443234523 9 years ago
Nobody hired me as well. Why? Is it a discrimination? Nobody care about white men.
ksc 9 years ago
its not really a lack of diversity considering these advertisements target the biggest by farr! ethnic group in their own country. USA 62% white 13% black, UK 85% white 4% black :/ sure more representation would be nice and its not like their isnt any. Equal representation means only 13% of american media should have black actors or models ect. equal representation doesnt mean 50/50 their should be more latino representation than black considering theirs more of them in the country 18 %
Marika Moor 9 years ago
I like originals more. If she would have been originally there, it would have been as good in some cases, probably. I find that she lacks that something that makes models great, although she looks gorgeous.
Violaine LB 9 years ago
I agree, I think she is beautiful but looks a bit stiff, not as natural at posing as other models.
Load More Replies... Trish Dumlao 9 years ago
i'm not a racist but honestly brands and companies invest on a model that they think would sell their products effectively, black or white, doesn't matter. Rihanna has a lot of advertisements because she sells, and people need to know that it isn't about anything, this is 2016, slavery is so over and advertisements are just all about business, that's all there is to it.
orenji 9 years ago
Everything in the media is about race nowadays... so this article is no surprise. In the wise words of Morgan Freeman... race will stop being a problem when we stop talking about it and just see each other as individuals. Lets just appreciate both images. There are models of every color all over the world.
Svetlana Nagaeva 9 years ago
i feel like the light in all pics was for white model. Especially the last ones. So, to remake the ads all had to be changed. The background, earrings, even bicycle. There's no contrast, and image doesn't pop because of it. It's more about the colors of picture than about colors of model. Sometimes skin tone blends with the product, so you choose another model to highlight it. In fashion world divercity is more popular than anywhere esle, so it's about light, color and form. Not about race...
Mike M (OB1Coyote) 9 years ago
So, the alternative is to put more blacks in photos for the sake of having more blacks in photos...
Sara Fina 9 years ago
The alternative is to not always hire white models just because they are white.
Load More Replies... 
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