One of the biggest magazine companies Vogue recently got criticised about a Vogue shoot that they did with Gigi Hadid back in 2015. The series of photo shows the model in different coloured wigs.
Vogue was criticised because instead of using a darker skinned model who actually has an afro. They decide to use Gigi Hadid only because of how famous she is, if they wanted to use a specific model they could of changed the concept of their photographs. This is called cultural appropriation as they are taking the big bold afro from black women and using it on white models without any credit. As most people of colour already get criticised because of the way their hair is naturally and are constantly forced by the media about how they should try different hairstyles to look ‘better’ and sadly looking ‘better’ in a job interview for example is more likely to get them employed get into work place. Its a shame the media have been bashing people of colour for their hairstyles like cornrows and dreads but suddenly it’s a trend when we see a white american celebrity like Kylie Jenner ‘rocking it’.
This isn’t the first time Vogue has been bashed about this, they recently published a magazine cover starring Karlie Kloss.
I’m sure you can already tell what’s wrong with this photograph. Just like Gigi Hadid’s shoot they have decided to dress Kloss in asian clothing and have even painted her face more white and made her eyes look geisha looking. How is this any different than blackface? Why could they have not hired an asian model instead or again if they wanted to work with Karlie why not change the setting, clothing and make up of the shoot to fit her. Cultural appropriation is happening more and more in the media especially with magazine companies and people need to learn the different between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.
fashion forward 