Can black models get a break?

Even countries with a black majority seem to forget their dark skinned counterparts come fashion week.


Only 28 out of 1,128 models walking in Brazil’s  São Paulo fashion week in 2008 were black. In a country where 50.8% of the population is of Afro-Brazilian descent, this seems a little ridiculous. In 2009, a two-year quota for 10% black models was put in place to encourage diversity. A year after its expiration date, designers still haven’t diversified their runways. The ironically-named Vivian Whiteman, fashion editor of the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo, insists that the whitewashed catwalks are reflective of Brazil’s high-end fashion consumer: “research showed their clients still reject the combination of black [models] and luxury clothing.”

There is also the problem with the availability of black models. As evidenced by this New York Times article, Brazilian model scouts specifically search for the “right genetic cocktail of German and Italian ancestry, perhaps with some Russian or other Slavic blood thrown in.” So when Afro-Brazilian bookers try to find black top models to use for shows, the task can be daunting. Brazilian designer Oskar Metsavaht said, ”I asked everyone for help but there were just not enough experienced professionals.”
Protesters in Brazil are pushing to raise the quota to 20%, but there is no word of this coming to fruition yet.

Do you think they should raise the quota even higher to reflect the actual demographics of Brazil?