VS Fashion Show’s Only British Model Says The Industry Still Doesn’t “Accept Black Girls”
Leomie Anderson flew the flag for Britain at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in NYC last night. [Photo: Rex]
Model Leomie Anderson may be at the top of her game, but she says she’s faced racial discrimination in the modelling industry.
As the only British model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last night, the 22-year-old is clearly great at what she does but says her journey to the top has been a struggle because of her skin colour.
Anderson snaps a selfie at the VSFW show yesterday. [Photo: Instagram/Leomie Anderson]
“Lighter skinned girls get more work than darker skinned girls,” she tells the BBC. Anderson has noticed some change in the industry, but says the fashion industry “has a long way to go especially when it comes to the shade of models”.
“I definitely feel that there has been a lot of improvements in the industry with regards to their use of black models, but I would definitely say that it has a long way to go especially with regards to shade.
“Being a light-skinned model, I feel like they definitely get more work than darker skinned models.”
Anderson’s walked in some big shows, including Kanye West’s Fashion Week presentation… [Photo: Instagram/Leomie Anderson]
… And the Tommy Hilfiger SS16 show in September. [Photo: Getty]
While Anderson says she’s never had any issues in London or New York (she’s walked in plenty of high-profile shows including Kanye West’s Fashion Week presentation earlier this year), she claims she’s experienced difficulties with castings in Milan and Paris.
“Milan’s still very behind when it comes to using a lot more diversity in their shows. Sometimes they say stuff like ‘oh, you know, we’re not using any Africans in our shows this season’, and I’m like ‘eh? what do you mean?’.
“But the thing is it’s because they actually just don’t know. They’re just so behind, it’s appalling, yes, but it happens and it’s one of those things that you can’t hold on to it for too long.
“I can’t just hold the anger in for too long or else you know I’d be angry all the time.”
Anderson donned a beautiful shimmering spaghetti strap dress for the VS show’s after party. [Photo: Getty]
Anderson, like many others in the fashion industry, wants to see more diversity. [Photo: Instagram/Leomie Anderson]
But there has been progression, says Anderson.
“My friend Maria (Borges), who’s walking in the Victoria’s Secret show, she’s walking with her natural hair.
“So there is definitely things that are happening that are positive.”
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