All Articles Tagged "black model"
‘Clearly I’m A Black Woman:’ Devyn Of ‘The Face’ Apologizes For Controversial Black Model Remark
Before The Face season finale aired this week, she was known as “Sally,” not to give away the big reveal. Well, she’s Sally no more. Gorgeous, outspoken and original, Devyn Abdullah is fashion’s newest face! The Bronx born beauty has landed a contract with Ulta Beauty, after years of hard work and hustle to both support her young daughter and achieve her dreams. Finally, it’s her moment! We met with Devyn and her supermodel coachKarolina Kurkova for a celebratory lunch at the Peninsula Hotel in NYC. She excitedly talked about the next chapter of her life, inspiring young girls, and finally set the record straight about not considering herself a black girl model, but one that every woman can see a bit of themselves in when they look in the mirror.
SB: I know recently you caught a lot of heat when you said you didn’t consider yourself a black model. Do you think that comment was taken out of context and do you want to clear it up?
Devyn: “I’ve been waiting for the moment to address this. I can understand how someone can take it out of context, and how someone could misinterpret it. I definitely want to apologize because I didn’t want to offend anybody in any type of way.
Check out the rest of her response on StyleBlazer.com.
Not Buying It: Model Ajuma Nasenyana Fighting Skin Lightening Among Kenyan Women
Source:outandaboutafrica.blogspot.com
Just when it seems like black women around the globe are succumbing to the light skin, long silky straight hair don’t care phenom, a woman like Ajuma Nasenyana comes along. Known for her dark skin, short hair, and high cheekbones, Ajuma is the norm when it comes to beauty among black women in her country, which is she can’t stand the fact that every where she looks there are billboards, magazine ads, pamphlets, and TV spots encouraging Kenyan women to lighten their skin via bleaching and straighten their hair.
“It seems that the world is conspiring in preaching that there is something wrong with Kenyan ladies’ kinky hair and dark skin,” Ajuma told the Daily Nation.
Speaking on a Swedish cosmetics firm that recently entered the Kenyan market, she added: “Their leaflets are all about skin-lightening, and they seem to be doing good business in Kenya. It just shocks me. It’s not okay for a Caucasian to tell us to lighten our skin.”
At 28 years old, Ajuma has graced many runways throughout Milan, Paris, London, and New York, modeling for top names like Vivianne Westwood and Alexander McQueen as a member of the prestigious Ford Models company. Ironically though, her beauty is more heralded abroad than it is in her own hometown.
“I have never attempted to change my skin,” she said. “I am natural. People in Europe and America love my dark skin. But here in Kenya, in my home country, some consider it not attractive.”
Since it’s going to take more than just trying to verbally convince Kenyan women not to buy into the light is right propaganda they’re being sold in droves from companies like Carol Light, Ajuma wants to give natives an alternative, especially since brands like Movate, Jaribu, Peau Clair, Betalemon and Mekako, which have long been banned in Kenya because of their hydroquinone, steroid and mercury components, are still being used illegally. She told the Daily Nation she wants to start an all-natural line of cosmetics for women with dark skin so that ladies will be encouraged to enhance their beauty in it’s true shade rather than lightening it to feel attractive. At the end of the day, she knows the forces that want black women to believe their skin isn’t good enough, whether they’re an everyday woman or a model, are stronger than the ones rallying against those ideals—at least for now.
“When you flip through fashion magazines like Vogue and only see white models, then you get the feeling on what is happening to black models,” she said. “It is not fair.”
What do you think about the onslaught of skin bleaching companies moving into the Kenyan market.
Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.
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Iman: Not Just Another Pretty Face
THE supermodel Iman hasn’t walked a runway in 21 years. Yet at almost 55 years old, with that famous Modigliani profile and copper-toned skin, she’s as gorgeous as ever. She will be recognized as this year’s Fashion Icon, a special award that goes to “an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion,” according to the council. Iman chose her friend Isabella Rossellini to present the award.
