South Sudanese model, Nykhor Paul has rattled the fashion world with a thought-provoking letter that brings to the front burner issues of racism against dark skinned models.
South Sudanese model and well-known human rights activist, Nykhor Paul, has brought to the front burner the issue of racism in the fashion industry, saying she has had it with makeup artists being unprepared to work on dark skin tone.
Model, Nykhor Paul
The model took to her Instagram on Monday to pen an open letter to 'white people in the fashion world', requesting them to be more prepared and respectful when dealing with models with 'dark skin tones'.
"Dear white people in the fashion world", she writes, "please don't take this the wrong way but it's time you people get your shit right when it comes to our complexion! Why do I have to bring my own makeup to a professional show when all the other white girls don't have to do anything but show up WTF!"
"Don't try to make me feel bad because I am blue black", she adds.
The 25-year-old model, who has appeared in shows for Calvin Klein and Rick Owens, went on to mention many makeup brands including Mac, Bobbi Brown, Makeup forever, Iman cosmetic, black opal, among others that carry shades for her, meaning there's so much options out there for dark skin tones today for any makeup artist to give excuses.
"A good makeup artist would come prepared and do their research before coming to work because often time you know what to expect especially at a show! Stop apologizing it's insulting and disrespectful to me and my race, it doesn't help, seriously!", she insisted.
While asking the makeup artists to make an effort at least, Paul calls out popular fashion event venues such as "NYC, London, Milan, Paris and Cape Town plus everywhere else that have issues with black skin tones", saying just because only few of dark skin toned models are selected to walk the fashion runway doesn't mean "you have the right to make us look ratchet".
"I'm tired of complaining about not getting book as a black model and I'm definitely super tired of apologizing for my blackness!!!! Fashion is art, art is never racist it should be inclusive of all not only white people, shit we started fashion in Africa and you modernize and copy it! Why can't we be part of fashion fully and equally?" she asked in conclusion.