You may or may not have seen a video clip floating around Facebook entitled "Dark Girls" . If you haven't seen it, PLEASE watch! Here's the link: http://vimeo.com/24155797 . I cannot say that I remember experiencing pain on the level of the women in this video regarding my skin color. I do remember being in school and guys exclusively wanting to talk light-skinned, hazel-eyed girls. However, I just saw it as being a personal preference. I am dark enough to fail the "paper bag" test, but not dark enough to be mistaken for an "African", so my experience as a "dark-skinned" girl has differed from that of some of my other VERY dark-skinned, or "Black" classmates. I remember seeing those girls (and boys) constantly being called names like "Blackie" and "Tar Baby" and thinking it was RIDICULOUS that black children were being racist against their own people!
Fast-forward to 2011 and I am a 30 year-old Freelance Plus Model. I have noticed that ever since I embarked upon this modeling journey in 2008, I have been rejected by every major/minor agency in Chicago. I just figured rejection is a part of the business right? I have continued to work hard on things that I can control (lowering my weight, building my portfolio, giving 100% in everything that I do) without sweating the things that I have NO control over at this point (my height, my skin color). I've never viewed my skin color as a major problem, or set-back in my life, so it NEVER dawned on me that agencies, or designers/clients could see things a little differently.
Try a quick exercise in your spare time: Grab your favorite plus-size catalog, peruse it and count the number of "dark-skinned" girls you see in the catalog. I guarantee you won't use more than one hand. And, you'll have fingers to spare. The only MAJOR/common plus-size retailer that I've seen give dark-skinned plus models work on a ''consistent'' basis is Ashley Stewart. While sitting here typing this, the only two commercially successful dark-skinned plus models I can think of are Muslimah, and Mia Amber Davis, who sadly passed away a little over a month ago. Both models worked for Ashley Stewart. This may seem like a petty issue to some, but how would you feel if you spent GOOD money on your clothes at these stores, yet rarely (if ever) saw a model who looked like you in the ads? How would you feel if you were ever passed over for work because you weren't as "light-skinned" as another model, even if you were just as qualified (if not more)? I just feel as though this is a discussion that should not even have to occur in 2011! Are people REALLY that small-minded? This "color-struck" mentality has run rampant in the straight-size modeling industry since forever! Just read this story from a straight-sized, dark-skinned model: http://theybf.com/2011/06/13/young-ybf-model-leomie-anderson-opens-up-about-racism-in-the-fashion-industry .
The Plus-Size industry likes to see itself as being more "inclusive". We're used to being the underdogs because the fashion industry REFUSES to see the beauty in anyone over a size 2, so we have to "stick together". But if there are already VERY few Black women getting work, and those who are only book because they can successfully pass the "paper bag" test, How far have we REALLY come? Beauty not only comes in ALL shapes and sizes, but in ALL shades as well.
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