By Wanique Block
In 2022, despite all the strides we have already made toward representation and inclusivity in the fashion industry, people of colour, specifically Black people continue to bare the brunt of mistreatment and marginalisation in an industry that is still predominantly white.
With fashion week coming to an end, several Black models have come forward with shocking makeup and hair stories about how they were mistreated backstage.
21-year-old American model, Raven Schexnayder documented how her 4c- textured hair was ignored by stylists who were instructed to give her a slicked-back ponytail.
The non-black hairstylists struggled to do Ravens hair forcing her to walk down the runway with an afro texture in the front and a silky hairpiece in the back that failed to blend.
Another Black model, Taylor Larzo, on Instagram shared the traumatic experiences she endured at the hands of non-black hairstylists who didn’t know how to do her hair.
“It was disheartening to sit in a stylists chair and hear, ‘i wish I could get the easier haired models out of the way’ and by easier haired, they meant straight”, she shared.
Due to excessive heat and tension damage, Taylor was forced to cut her afro short
“My hair suffered too much damage that it couldn’t come back from”, Taylor expressed.
She continued: “If you know me personally, you know I’m always talking about how I want to cut my hair, but it’s a difference between wanting to and having to. “it’s just hair, it’ll grow back” I know, I understand. but watching this makes me sad”.
Not only is this alarming, but it does force us to raise important questions about POC representation and inclusivity backstage. Why are Black Hairstylists or Makeup artists never included in the conversations or brought on board for big fashion events? Not to mention, as a non-black artist why are you so comfortable with mistreating Black women?
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