More than a dozen black models have declared they are boycotting Melbourne Fashion Week in response to multiple instances of racism they have experienced across the wider Australian fashion industry.
A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne, which organises MFW, said: “All models walking at Melbourne Fashion Week are paid the same rate, with the exception of some higher profile models – including those from diverse backgrounds. The standard rate is comparable or above similar fashion industry events.
“So you do your own hair and make-up, and then sometimes I end up braiding another African model’s hair and trying to comfort her because no one else will or can style her. I’m just done, we’re not asking for much, just basic respect,” she said. The City of Melbourne said that they had engaged specialist hair stylists and make-up artists who were highly experienced in working with textured hair and darker skin tones.“I was backstage for a show , and on the wall were photos of all the models – I was looking for my photo, and I couldn’t find it, and then I turned to my right and my headshot was on another wall and on top of my photo were the words ‘inclusion and diversity’. Just me, separated from the rest,” she said.
“I am always paid less – I know that for a fact. I always compare with non-black models, we trust each other, and we talk about what we get paid. It has varied from $1000 to $5000 less for the exact same shoot or show,” a 24-year-old Sudanese model said. The models all cited the fashion and modelling industry’s lack of diversity across talent agencies, fashion houses, photographers, hair and make-up artists and event companies as compounding the problems.
In 2015, Adelaide-based talent agent Juach Cyer launched Rin Models, focusing on dark-skinned models. He signed modelling superstar Adut Akech. Cyer credits much of his agency’s success to signing Australian models to major agencies in Europe and the US.