In an effort to combat the narrow-minded view of beauty within the modeling industry, African model Deddah Howard has recreated some of the hottest ad campaigns featuring big names like Kendall Jenner, Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bundchen.
She hopes the shoot will demonstrate the value of women of color within an industry where they go largely ignored.
Find out why this shoot was so important to Deddah and view her flawless photos above.
Diversity within the modeling industry has always been a hot topic, with critics pointing out a glaring lack of Black women being used in mainstream ad campaigns and runway shows.
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Diversity within the modeling industry has always been a hot topic, with critics pointing out a glaring lack of Black women being used in mainstream ad campaigns and runway shows.
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Sure, you have big names like Tyra and Naomi, as well as a sprinkling of millennial Black models today such as Jessica White, Chanel Iman, and Selita Ebanks.
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Sure, you have big names like Tyra and Naomi, as well as a sprinkling of millennial Black models today such as Jessica White, Chanel Iman, and Selita Ebanks.
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It’s clear however that the industry has a ways to go before becoming truly inclusive.
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It’s clear however that the industry has a ways to go before becoming truly inclusive.
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African model Deddeh Howard recently recreated fashion spreads by the biggest mainstream models in the industry, including Kendall Jenner, Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bundchen.
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African model Deddeh Howard recently recreated fashion spreads by the biggest mainstream models in the industry, including Kendall Jenner, Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bundchen.
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She explains that the photoshoot was prompted by her constant rejection as a Los Angeles based model who was always told agencies “had enough black girls already.”
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She explains that the photoshoot was prompted by her constant rejection as a Los Angeles based model who was always told agencies “had enough black girls already.”
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“Not too long ago, … I would walk into various fashion model agencies and I would immediately be compared to … one or two black model that they had on the roster,” Deddeh explains on her website.
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“Not too long ago, … I would walk into various fashion model agencies and I would immediately be compared to … one or two black model that they had on the roster,” Deddeh explains on her website.
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She went on, “Even though I was told by those agencies that I have an amazing look and [they] wish they could represent me, they already have a black model.”
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She went on, “Even though I was told by those agencies that I have an amazing look and [they] wish they could represent me, they already have a black model.”
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“It seemed as if one or two black models on the roster are enough to represent us all. When you are told that, trust me, it feels bizarre.”
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“It seemed as if one or two black models on the roster are enough to represent us all. When you are told that, trust me, it feels bizarre.”
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She also admitted that legends like Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Beverly Johnson have great careers, but they are the exception, not the rule. Admittedly, it’s hard to imagine an agency saying, “sorry, we have enough white girls.”
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She also admitted that legends like Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Beverly Johnson have great careers, but they are the exception, not the rule. Admittedly, it’s hard to imagine an agency saying, “sorry, we have enough white girls.”
In an effort to combat the narrow-minded view of beauty within the modeling industry, African model Deddah Howard has recreated some of the hottest ad campaigns featuring big names like Kendall Jenner, Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bundchen.
She hopes the shoot will demonstrate the value of women of color within an industry where they go largely ignored.
Find out why this shoot was so important to Deddah and view her flawless photos above.