The modeling industry has, in recent times, embraced inclusivity so much so that people, who in the past, would have been told they’ll be square pegs in round holes if they took up the profession, now have all the needed confidence to give it a shot.
Thanks to this diversity evolution, we are seeing campaigns that involve not just the “everyday model.”
As more diverse models are now being given the opportunity to showcase their talent, we spotlight those with albinism that are breaking glass ceilings. As we did for black male models with albinism, we spotlight their female peers who are doing same.
Check them out below:
Thando Hopa — Photo Credit: Vogue
Thando Hopa
The South African model, activist and lawyer made history this year when she became the first woman with albinism to feature on a Vogue cover.
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Speaking to Grazia about how she became a model, she said: “It was only when one of SA’s foremost designers asked me to consider modelling for him that I decided to give it a try.”
“It has changed my outlook. I now realise that I have a platform to inspire young girls, and as someone who never had a role model who looked like me when I was growing up, I now hope to be able to show that albinism can be beautiful and is just another kind of normal.”
Refilwe Modiselle — Photo via @refilwemodiselle on Instagram
Refilwe Modiselle
Modiselle became the first model with albinism to strut the runway in South Africa when she featured in a David Tlale campaign in 2005. She has gone ahead to feature in several campaigns for top brands and magazines.
Diandra Forrest — Photo via @diandraforrest on Instagram
Diandra Forrest
Born in The Bronx, New York, Diandra Forrest is the first female model with albinism to be signed to a major modeling agency. She has featured in several fashion magazines and strutted the runways of several international fashion shows.
About living with albinism, she said: “It is not easy being a person with albinism because of the lack of understanding of what the condition is, even in the modelling industry where I have been working for the past few years.”
She is, however, unperturbed thanks to her ever-growing confidence.
“Over the years, I have found my confidence, as a person with albinism, as just a woman, so that sort of thing does not bother me anymore,” she told the UN Human Rights.
Damaris — Photo via @kneelbeforeyou1 on Instagram
Damaris
The Canadian model has also been making waves in the industry. She has walked the Toronto Fashion Week runway and also graced the cover of Afropunk. She also made a cameo appearance in Miguel’s Skywalker video.
