In a recent Instagram post, South Sudanese model Nykhor Paul (pictured) writes a scathing criticism to make-up artists — and the modeling industry at large — over failing to cater to Black models.
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In her post, Nyhor doesn’t mince words, when she addresses make-up artists, writing:
“Please don’t take this the wrong way but it’s time you people get your sh*t 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!”
Nyhor also makes it clear that — with the array of make-up choices on the market specifically for Black women — make-up artists don’t have an excuse for not being prepared for Black models:
“Don’t try to make me feel bad because I am blue black its 2015 go to Mac, Bobbi Brown, Makeup forever, Iman cosmetic, black opal, even Lancôme and Clinique carried them plus so much more. there’s so much options our there for dark skin tones today. A good makeup artist would come prepare and do there 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! Make an effort at least! That goes for NYC, London, Milan, Paris and Cape Town plus everywhere else that have issues with black skin tones. Just because you only book a few of us doesn’t mean you have the right to make us look ratchet.”
Paul then turns her attention to the wider modeling industry as a whole:
“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?”
A former refugee, Paul moved to the United States at 9 and was soon motivated by her teachers to try her hand at modeling.
Since then, Paul has become one of the industries most-sought-after models, walking for designers Vivienne Westwood and Tracy Reese.
In addition to her modeling fame, Paul is known as a humanitarian; she was nominated by Modeling.com last year for the Humanitarian Award for her work with the International Rescue Committee on bringing awareness to refugees and displaced individuals in Ethiopia and Sudan.
See dazzling photos of Paul here:
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