Modeling and Racism...?
When I was working as a top model in Bangkok in my early twenties, I was at a casting that Elite had sent me to. The client was looking for the next face of a popular local vodka brand in Southeast Asia. I didn’t have any information on the casting at the time. Back then, we didn’t question our agents. We went where we were told.
When I got there, the client took one look at me and said, “You’re too Asian” I thought I had heard it all, but that was something new. I said to him, “I am Asian. And, what’s more, this is Bangkok!” He said to me, “We’re looking for someone who can pass as Asian and White.”
OK, so that’s not me. But, that statement – “You’re too Asian” – has always haunted me. Not that I’m bothered by the fact that I look Asian, but I’m bothered by the fact that a Bangkok company would want someone who doesn’t look Asian. This is perhaps one of the reasons I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in sociology. Close to finishing my Ph.D., I’m no closer to understanding racism in the modeling industry.
When Tyra Banks started out, she was competing with Naomi for jobs in Europe. Can you imagine? Competing with Naomi?? Why couldn’t the two Black female models partake on the same runways??? It’s simple. Most clients just don’t want more than one Black model on their runways. But can it be so simple as to blame the client? I think not. The clients give us, the consumers, what we want. And, apparently, most of the consumers want to see white models, despite where they are on the globe.
It’s a sad situation, but true. Owning a top modeling agency in Boston, the situation, I’m sad to report, is no different. Most clients, when booking models, prefer Caucasians, and in fact, request Caucasians. When they do want ethnic models, they’d prefer those who are partly white. They like to use the term ‘ethnically ambiguous’.
So to all the ethnic models out there, I leave you with this solemn note: The likelihood of your making it in this industry is slim to none. Have a back-up plan. Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell are anomalies.
