Jezebel recently analyzed the September issues of 10 fashion magazines in search of black models who scored their own fashion editorials. Aside from
Kelly Moreira, who graced eight pages in
Teen Vogue; Chanel Iman, who appeared on eight pages in
Allure; Georgie Badiel, who was featured on 10 pages of
Elle; and
Lyndsey Scott, who made the pages of
W, most magazines, including
Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Glamour, Lucky and
Cosmopolitan, neglected to feature a black model carrying an editorial by herself:
Why was it important for black models to go it alone? "A fashion magazine uses its glossy fashion editorial pages to announce what is beautiful, fashionable, and 'now,'" says Jezebel. "When only white models are utilized in the highly desirable September feature fashion shoots, the message being sent is that to be beautiful, fashionable and 'now,' you can't be black."
The story doesn't count celebrities (like
Halle Berry on
Vogue's September cover), maintains Jezebel's editors, because most of them, although black, have very light skin and straight hair. Their appearance underscores the beauty of mainstream white features, and therefore is not a true reflection of diversity. It's unclear why
Jezebel chose not to count editorials that included models of all colors, like Vogue's "We are the World" editorial, featuring
Joan Smalls and
Jourdan Dunn, or
Sessilee Lopez's shoot in
Glamour with Tommy Hilfiger.