Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Brazil: Fashion show accused of racism

Brazilian prosecutors are investigating charges of racism during Sao Paulo Fashion Week held earlier this month. Though black was the color du jour during the fashion extravaganza, black models alleged that they were discriminated against. They may have a point as only 28 of the 1128 models featured during Sao Paulo Fashion Week where black.

As BBC News noted, several models of African descent were unhappy not only with Fashion Week but also at the modeling industry as a whole:

And outside the landmark Bienal building - where Sao Paulo Fashion Week is being staged - young black models voiced their frustration.

"I think the business is smaller for black girls," says 19-year-old Rafaela Favero. "But I don't know if it is because we are just black - but we are different, our pattern of beauty is different - our hair and our bodies."

"In a fashion show it is practically impossible," says 24-year-old Rafael Milagres.

Last year, we noted how Bolivian models tend to equate “beauty” with looking light-skinned rather than indigenous.

Sources (English)- AFP, BBC News

Sources (Spanish)- La Tercera

Image- BBC News

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