Black Top Model Redid Her Own Makeup And Hair 10 Minutes Before Walking The Runway Because The Makeup Artists Failed
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Model Leomie Anderson was first scouted when she was just 14, walking home from school in south London. At 17, Anderson was already walking for Marc Jacobs. Since then, she has built an impressive portfolio and even became the first Black British Victoria’s Secret Angel.
But despite all of her accolades and achievements and the fact that it’s 2021, Anderson’s career is still affected by her race.
A week ago, the model uploaded a video to her social media, revealing her experience at a runway show where the glam team was so ill-equipped to work with her skin tone and hair type that she had to do it herself.
More info: Instagram | TikTok | Twitter
28-year-old model and fashion entrepreneur Leomie Anderson was first scouted when she was just 14
Image credits: leomieanderson
Everything happened during the Christian Cowan runway show at New York Fashion Week last month.
First, a makeup artist applied a foundation that really didn’t fit the model and if that wasn’t enough, another artist failed to rectify it. Anderson explained she “felt ugly AF” and redid her own face in 10 minutes before stepping on the podium.
The recording also captured how her hair was roughly handled until a team of three hairstylists descended to dry and style it.
The experience left Anderson feeling that she “wanted to go home,” and she pleaded for fashion houses to hire more black hair and makeup artists so nobody would have to go through this again.
But despite her impressive resume and the fact that it’s 2021, her career is still affected by her race
Recently, Anderson shared a video with her online followers to show that “being a black model is doing other people’s jobs and not being paid for the extra work”
Anderson’s clip has racked up over 3 million combined views on TikTok and Twitter
@leomieandersonAnd this is why I carry a full makeup kit wherever I go for work #blackmodel #modellife #modeltok #blackmakeup #fyp #leomieanderson♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod
The whole ordeal reminded me of what model and filmmaker Adesuwa Aighewi shared with Vogue in a talk on racism and privilege in the industry.
“It’s funny how, like, there’s different realities as a model,” she said. ” Like, if you were not a black model, you just get to be a model, get to be sexy, get to be on yachts, get to do whatever it is that you wanna do, and be carefree. If you’re a black model, all of a sudden, you’re the pioneer for your race.”
Model Londone Myers shared a similar experience at Paris Fashion Week in 2017, and the hashtag #BlackModelsMatter created by model Ashley Chew routinely highlights what black models have to deal with in their line of work.
However, according to a diversity analysis by the Fashion Spot, last month’s New York Fashion Week Spring 2022 was the second-most-diverse season on record with 55.5% models of color. But even though the Christian Cowan runway show featured an array of models from different ethnicities and featuring various body types, the issues raised by Anderson make it obvious that there’s still room for improvement within the business.
And sadly, it isn’t an anomaly
Image credits: leomieanderson
Image credits: leomieanderson
As others responded to it with more similar stories
People think the fashion industry needs to do better
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I'm a white model and I mean day glo pale white and most MUAs can't even do *my* makeup without turning me orange so I really feel for black models in this regard. You should be able to work with all skin tones.
Same..and add blue eyes and white hair that totally washes out any skin tone so colour has to be kindly used and blended because it will BLOTCH so quickly.
I'm a freckled redhead so orange tones look super weird on me and especially if they cover up the freckles with foundation
I bet you are a natural beauty!
I so agree with you! But in some countries, especially where black models are still rather rare (not out of racism, more population related) - the MUAs totally lack experience on doing it and often don't have the color palette available. Less than 15 years ago, my black friends living in Europe, asked me to send foundation/make up from the US, as it wasn't available in their local drug stores/beauty saloons. Not to mention finding a hair dresser!!!
One commenter had a great point: "they don't teach colour theory for dark skin because it 'isn't common' ". I mean come on. What year are we living in?! If they are teaching colour theory for skin it should be baseline all tones, so even if you don't need the skills often, you have them and can brush up on what you've already learned how to do 🤷♀️ Edit: the same thing should be applied to hair stylists who are students, being taught the full range. It's clearly needed on both fronts
I've heard that modern cosmetology schools offer training on all hair types, but a bit of training in school doesn't make a person an expert. And a model at Fashion Week definitely wants an expert!
True. I also knew someone who was a cosmetology student who just wanted a license to do braids for Black women in her spa that catered to Black women. To get this license, she had to go through hours and hours and hours of training on white hair. It was easily 90% of her requirements. It was ridiculous.
WHITE hair?????? That would be for little old ladies, and elderly gents. White hair can be fine, straight, coarse or curly. And on people of European, Asian , African, Australian, Melanesian, Polynesian, American (north and south) natives or . . . .
No. A model is not a makeup artist. Take your privileged ignorant outrage elsewhere
Take your own advice M'dear. (though I duno what "Make Up Artist" has to do with hair.
I agree! Sometimes it really is not about racism, it's just the lack of experience and not having the full range of skin tones in the beauty case. Still embarrassing...
NO facial make-up in 'necessary'. As a model you are employed to do a job. If that requires plastering cosmetics on your skin, and doing weird things with your hair - that is YOUR choice
You have a vast misunderstanding of what modeling is dude. Makeup is a requirement for ALL. This means every race and colour and every gender. It's just a part of the job.
Honestly, I'd say this is mostly not the makeup artist's fault. It's the fault of a system that only teaches them how to do straight hair and light skin.
Agree, it's the fault of the organisers of these events. If you are booking black models, you should be making sure that you also book the makeup artists who are able to cater to them, it's in your own interest that they look good! Doing this would also build demand for the skills and lead to upskilling of existing makeup artists to fill the roles
Yeah, I don‘t think they even know this might be needed.
It's an example of systemic racism. There are several places where there's a chance to make it right.
Yes.
This 100%.
No. If this is your profession, you should care about having the range to work with anyone.
Having to go out of your way to learn is not the solution, when people could learn this as a regular part of their training, which they clearly don't atm.
If no one ever "goes out of their way," then it's going to take a very long time to root out racism.
It shouldn't be people's responsibility to have to go out of ther way. You complain that the racism is systemic. It's a perfect example of systemic problems, when hairdressers and makeup artists don't get taught how to do ALL hair and skin in their regular training. Systemic racism is not being solved by individuals .
You're both right. "The system" is ultimately run by individuals. If enough individuals demand more education in different skin tones and hair textures, then more of the schools will offer it, until it becomes a regular part of the system.
Nah. They do it because that's what is the current fashion. Think of yourself as an 'actor' -- or go find a real job,
I'm a white model and I mean day glo pale white and most MUAs can't even do *my* makeup without turning me orange so I really feel for black models in this regard. You should be able to work with all skin tones.
Same..and add blue eyes and white hair that totally washes out any skin tone so colour has to be kindly used and blended because it will BLOTCH so quickly.
I'm a freckled redhead so orange tones look super weird on me and especially if they cover up the freckles with foundation
I bet you are a natural beauty!
I so agree with you! But in some countries, especially where black models are still rather rare (not out of racism, more population related) - the MUAs totally lack experience on doing it and often don't have the color palette available. Less than 15 years ago, my black friends living in Europe, asked me to send foundation/make up from the US, as it wasn't available in their local drug stores/beauty saloons. Not to mention finding a hair dresser!!!
One commenter had a great point: "they don't teach colour theory for dark skin because it 'isn't common' ". I mean come on. What year are we living in?! If they are teaching colour theory for skin it should be baseline all tones, so even if you don't need the skills often, you have them and can brush up on what you've already learned how to do 🤷♀️ Edit: the same thing should be applied to hair stylists who are students, being taught the full range. It's clearly needed on both fronts
I've heard that modern cosmetology schools offer training on all hair types, but a bit of training in school doesn't make a person an expert. And a model at Fashion Week definitely wants an expert!
True. I also knew someone who was a cosmetology student who just wanted a license to do braids for Black women in her spa that catered to Black women. To get this license, she had to go through hours and hours and hours of training on white hair. It was easily 90% of her requirements. It was ridiculous.
WHITE hair?????? That would be for little old ladies, and elderly gents. White hair can be fine, straight, coarse or curly. And on people of European, Asian , African, Australian, Melanesian, Polynesian, American (north and south) natives or . . . .
No. A model is not a makeup artist. Take your privileged ignorant outrage elsewhere
Take your own advice M'dear. (though I duno what "Make Up Artist" has to do with hair.
I agree! Sometimes it really is not about racism, it's just the lack of experience and not having the full range of skin tones in the beauty case. Still embarrassing...
NO facial make-up in 'necessary'. As a model you are employed to do a job. If that requires plastering cosmetics on your skin, and doing weird things with your hair - that is YOUR choice
You have a vast misunderstanding of what modeling is dude. Makeup is a requirement for ALL. This means every race and colour and every gender. It's just a part of the job.
Honestly, I'd say this is mostly not the makeup artist's fault. It's the fault of a system that only teaches them how to do straight hair and light skin.
Agree, it's the fault of the organisers of these events. If you are booking black models, you should be making sure that you also book the makeup artists who are able to cater to them, it's in your own interest that they look good! Doing this would also build demand for the skills and lead to upskilling of existing makeup artists to fill the roles
Yeah, I don‘t think they even know this might be needed.
It's an example of systemic racism. There are several places where there's a chance to make it right.
Yes.
This 100%.
No. If this is your profession, you should care about having the range to work with anyone.
Having to go out of your way to learn is not the solution, when people could learn this as a regular part of their training, which they clearly don't atm.
If no one ever "goes out of their way," then it's going to take a very long time to root out racism.
It shouldn't be people's responsibility to have to go out of ther way. You complain that the racism is systemic. It's a perfect example of systemic problems, when hairdressers and makeup artists don't get taught how to do ALL hair and skin in their regular training. Systemic racism is not being solved by individuals .
You're both right. "The system" is ultimately run by individuals. If enough individuals demand more education in different skin tones and hair textures, then more of the schools will offer it, until it becomes a regular part of the system.
Nah. They do it because that's what is the current fashion. Think of yourself as an 'actor' -- or go find a real job,