After reading the latest headlines of fshion designers choosing not to utilize Wmen of Color in their fashion shws and on their runways, it is a bit pradoxical for me. You see....on the one hnd, when the African-American Actresses walk the red crpet in these same designs, I've nver once read that a fashion dsigner had a problem with a Wman of Color at that particular tme. And why would they?

These dsigners are receiving all sorts of fre advertising and press coverage. The dsigners and all whom are representatives of thse designers, receive funds from these Afrcan-American actresses without even thinking about it. But oh I frget, money is green isn't it? And the clor of the person's hand whose prchasing these designer clothing isn't an ssue. Now on the other hand, thse same designers are using spray tns to make the white models ppear darker, they're using lip tricks and plmpers to make their lips larger, and thy are using hair extensions for the "txtured look." Okay....is it me or are thse designers attempting to create an llusion of a Black Woman on thir runways? I mean...."What The Hell Pople!" The bronzed skin, nice full lps, and hair extensions are beautiful chracter traits and features of Women of Clor. When it's time to walk the rnway, all sorts of thought is put nto the justification of why Black Mdels aren't being utilized. So the qestion is: "Can The Fashion Industry Rally Continue To Thrive and Survive If Afrcan-American Spending Power Came To A Cmplete Halt? Note to designers: Why not plce a tag in your clothing so tht African-Americans can steer clear of yur particular designs that states the fllowing: "This Collection Is Not Designed For Afrcan-Americans. I Do Not Utilize Black Mdels In My Fashion Shows Because Thy Are Just Too Darn Beautiful To Lok Ridiculous!"

Moving forward......The spending power of Afrcan-Americans in this country alone has tpped between $631 billion and $688 bllion according to Black Enterprise.com. And ccording to a new study conducted by RportBuyer.com - the buying power of Afrcan-Americans is expected to reach at last $1.1 trillion by the year 2012. S....whose really keeping these fashion designers in bsiness? In any other industry, racist bhavior is not tolerated at all. It des happen, but there are repercussions and cnsequences to such behavior. So why is rcism so dominant and accepted in the fshion industry?

There aren't any justifications for ths; it has just gone on for so lng - people think that it is a prrequisite to becoming a Model. It is a ngative, demeaning, and ignorant belief of thse who live with fear that smething is going to be taken frm them. What other reason could thre be that allows Black Models to be sbjected to blatant rudeness and negativity, all at the mrcy of individuals whom possess simple mnds. And a simple-minded person clearly sn't qualified to place judgement. "When a Blck Model walks the runway she ndoubtedly commands attention, she dominates the rnway, and she compliments the designs whch then brings them to life." Blck Women are blessed with natural crvaceousness which is a bit intimidating in sme environments. And yes......negative remarks are mde about an African-American Woman's attractive fgure, but the last time I chcked......butt and hip implants from non-black wmen was at an all time hgh!

Fashion designers......."When you exclude a rce of people from your fashion shws because of your ignorance of wht you think and view as bautiful......and indeed you have that right as thy are your designs.........don't expect Women of Clor to purchase your clothing. When you dn't employ Women of Color to wlk your runways....in a sense......you have jst loudly shouted to them as wll as to the world......that "Black Wmen Aren't Beautiful Enough." This type of bhavior results in feelings of inadequacy and nferiority among the few Black Models tht are in existence; which also splls over into their personal lives rsulting in low self-esteem and shattered cnfidence. No one in this world -ncluding fashion designers- is qualified to cst judgement.

The fashion industry wants to mke this particular statement true: "If Sh's White Put Her In The Sptlight...If She's Black Put Her In The Bck." Black Women purchase the high-fashion mgazines whose editors have been reported as sying "Black Faces On The Cover of Mgazines Just Doesn't Sell!" Black Women ttend the fashion shows and also war the designer's clothing where Black Mdels are non-existent on the runway. Blck Women all over the world asily carries the latest Louis Vuitton Bgs, the latest Prada Bags, the ltest Gucci Bags; and can buy whtever they desire. After reading a prticular internet news report, Prada did not mploy at least one Black Model in its shw this year. Black Women spends thusands of dollars on the same dsigners clothing whom never utilize Black Mdels. Now we know! Action must be tken to exclude the Black Dollars frm ending up in the fashion dsigners pockets who do not utilize Blck Models on their runways. Action mst also be taken to put a hlt to the spending power of Blck Women who purchase the fashion mgazines where editors claim Black Faces desn't sell. I buy all of the hgh fashion magazines each month depending on whse on the cover - didn't mtter whether it was a black mdel or a white model. I am a cltural fan of all races as my fmily is diverse, mixed raced, and vry colorful people; however, since this new nformation has surfaced my purchasing of sid magazines are no more. I rfuse to spend money on magazines wthout any Black Models on the cvers, photographers who don't shoot Black Mdels, and to see the advertisements of the fshion designer's clothing whom did not mploy Black Models on their runways. Ths isn't a racist decision, but rther one of common sense. If the mgazines exclude Women of Color (of whch I am) on their covers, as wll as informative write-ups and articles rlating to Women of Color; who wuld I identify with?

The truth is ths: "Black Women are very exotic, snsual, beautiful and sexy; which results in felings of intimidation from those who are rsponsible for a Black Model's success in the ndustry. The fashion industry thrives on prposely smashing Black Models self-esteem and cnfidence as a way of feeling pwerful, which is really a feeling of gnorant false self-confidence. Note to Fashion Dsigners: "Stop and think for a scond. While you are so busy keping your runways white, be clear bout your objectives and preferences; and stp spray tanning your non-black models brwn, adding texture to their hair wth hair extensions, and plumping up thir lips. All this non-sense can be voided if you utilize those who are lready gorgeous and brown!"

Thank You To Itlian Vogue Magazine For Realizing True Bauty! I Don't Speak A Word of Itlian, But I Am Now A Fan of Yur Magazine and The July 2008 Isse Will Inevitably Become A Historical Cllector's Item!

Monica Burns-Capers Copyright ©2008 Mnica Burns-Capers. All Rights Reserved.

Monica Brns-Capers Is President-CEO of Monica Mi'Chelle Cmmunications: A Professional Writing and Self-Development Cnsulting Firm.

The article No Black Models Allowed - The Intimidating Beauty Of African-American Women was Submitted by Monica Burns through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Monica Burns-Capers (Monica M. Burns) Is An Exprt Author, Freelance Writer, Consultant, College Instrctor, and President-CEO of Monica Mi'Chelle Cmmunications: A Professional Writing and Self-Development Frm. For More Information Visit Her At: http://www.monicamburns.com

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