When black model Joy Bryant got run off the runway

The lack of black models and the prevalence of razor-thin models has long been the bane of the fashion industry. (At this season's N.Y. Fashion Week, jumpsuits are much more popular than multicultural catwalks, says Reuters.) For an entertaining and infuriating firsthand account of one black model's experience in the biz, check out actress and ex-mannequin Joy Bryant's essay on the Huffington Post. Here's a tidbit of her describing one casting call to get you hungry:

"I finally get to the room, where the VERY famous designer is sitting at a long table with a few associates. I say hello, hand my portfolio over, and proceed to "walk" (please reference "Top Model"). I do so and then the VERY famous designer says to me, with a smile of course, "Joy, you are soooo beautiful, but I'm not using black girls this season." (Insert sound of record scratching here). Yeah, he actually said that to my 'beautiful' face. He's lucky he didn't get a black eye."

You have to wonder why this designer would bother to see a black model if he had no intention of using one in his show? Reuters also reports that Diane von Furstenberg, Tracy Reese and DKNY used a high number of black models this season. Worth noting.

-- Monica Corcoran

photo of Joy Bryant: WireImage

Comments

[nookly]

His party, he can invite who he wants to it. "Yeah, he actually said that to my 'beautiful' face. He's lucky he didn't get a black eye." Glad it did not hurt her arrogance.

[Nick H.]

Glad it did not hurt her arrogance.

However why play games if he KNEW he was not hiring why go have a farce of a casting call?

To be a jerk.
To prove he was powerful.
To deliberately hurt a young woman who was trying to improve herself.
Hopefully in the future someone will puncture his arrogance!

[Alan]

I thought we were way past the Black on whoever thing. This is just another example of her pleading :" boo hoo hoo, they dont want me cause I'm black." Well really, they really dont cause maybe his clothes dont look good on her skin color. Just like certain colors dont look good on me. Jeez grow up and smell the coffee. There's a black designer that told me I dont look ghetto enough, well there you have it. I accepted that and moved on...

[Carole Clarke]

All this model can do is take her experience to another designer. Suing him would just blow back on her - its not fair but thats how the system works.

Justice can only come from the consumer. If you don't like this designers racial attitudes, BOYCOTT his product. And that means not only his clothing but all his accessories and any perfumes. If his line is sold in nation-wide chains, boycott them as well. Withholding your cash is something all businesses understand.

[Celia]

And BET shows fashion shows with ONLY black models. How does that make it right? So what he's not using black models for that show. He may not be using brunettes either. Whoop de freakin do. If you don't like everything being based on looks get out of the fasion industry. And what would punching him in the face had done anyway? Assault anyone? The "He's lucky he didn't get a black eye." is a bit immature. Stooping to physical violence is unnecessary. Awww skinny little model is so pretty but didn't get her way....well better go beat some one up! Besides, I doubt this model is so great that everyone wants to book her. If that was the case we'd know her name.

[Miya]

Give me a break, Alan. I mean really. She doesn't appear to be complaining about her experience. It seems she's only sharing her insight about the industry. Since the modeling world didn't fully accept her, she's moved on. It sounds like someone needs a hug :)

[patroklos]

This is idiotic, and probably untrue. But if it IS true, it's the model's agency who messed up. The designers tell the agencies what they want, and the agencies send out the models. GET REAL, please.

[Patricia]

Telling people that something happened is not the same thing as whining about it or claiming that the experience made you into a helpless victim.

She's a successful model so obviously she got over it and found lots of work. She's not playing victim so people ease up.

[val]

celia your comment about bet and the runway shows that they show once a year is no comparison to the audience that this top designer would get.

The truth is that color does matter. From your comment im pretty sure that your not a ethnic woman so you have no idea what that comment means. So if you dont have an educated comment dont make one at all.

By the way the bet rip the run way show is to promote black designer that dont get any pub by anyone else. They use the only source the have to display fashion by african american woman. Alot of the clothing the is promoted is made for women that have full figures and are proud of it.

talk what you know and not what you think!

[MoralsMatter1998]

Alan

'There's a black designer that told me I dont look ghetto enough'

How unintelligent is this statement...it implies that black people have a patent on ghetto.

Tacky is tacky no matter what color the package.

The intent of her blog is to highlight the inequalities in the fashion industry.

I think some people just don't want to admit that racism is still alive and strong, and, should anyone bring the topic to light, they are whining or crying.

[Real model]

I am SURE these WHITE know it alls on here would sing a different tune if the Fashion world suddenly used ONLY Black models.

There are some really ignorant and sheltered comments on here. Demonstrating what a backward mentality we've imported from the Hicks of Naziville.

[Morgan Harper]

Regardless of what he said, there is always a better way to say things as a professional. End of story.

[Jack Henry]

Fashion is about designing a "look" which extends to designing the entire "look" as it moves down the runway. This is why models are cast (not just hired), because they fit a specific part in the overall vision the designer has for the collection. Someone should have explained this to Ms. Bryant.

[kc]

So white folks out their who think race is not an issue anymore, and we are sooooo past that era...think again! When I walk through the door for a job interview, the first thing "they" see is my color; not my degree, not my experience...my race! So, it's important to recognize that race is an issue in this country and then we can begin to limit it's power to negatively affect people's lives.

[kc]

Also, if the VERY famous desinger is not USING Black models this year, he ought to release a public statement saying that, so us BLACK FOLK wont' buy his clothes this season or any other season! We (Black) folk are clothes, we are human beings who are have purpose and value like everybody else. This designer is limited in intelligence and needs to outed, so that people know his true nature!

[masater blaster]

This shows the state of our country of today. There is still a strong under current of racism in this country. Articles like this one help to expose it. Justlike this election is showing the entire world the depths of it still. We all want to be judged by our actions not just our 'look'. This designer will gladly take money from a black shopper and Mc Same will take votes from anyone he can lie into giving it. The internet allows ordinary people to report and track the action of these people. Now lets learn to shun them and to vote them out of office.

[MASTER BLASTER]

This designer will not turn down your money when he wants to sell his clothes. Ltes keep his name in mind and not support him. This is just another example of the undercurrent of racism that is stilll here in the USA and really around the world. This election and it tone shows how far we still have to go. The neocons will say loudly that we dont need the goverment to use its power to assist in getting all a chance for the American dream. Like the airline industry, housing industry, banking, employment and getting elected......and so on and so on

[Voice of Reason]

why would ethnicity even be a metric? shouldn't the focus be on factors like body type, presentation, and status in the industry? Those are the qualities that make a good model. This situation is akin to Phil Jackson telling Pau Gasol, "We're not using any white players this game." Regardless of his ethnicity, his playing style and effectiveness are what choices should be based upon.

Is he saying that black people aren't supposed to wear his line? Is he saying that black people don't look right in his clothes? Also, do you see white people in runway shows for urban designers? Yes.

He can obviously cast anyone he chooses for his show, but exclusionary and racist policies should be pointed out.

[dick bohanon]

i have heard and seen that a lot of
black entertainment companies only
use blacks on their staffs and crews.
wheres the outrage?
getting even with whitey for past slights?
just giving their fellow ethnicities opportunities
maybe not available elsewhere?
i dont know but i've heard no one declare
these practices are racist.
so a businessman making an esthetic decision
in a esthetic business should probably
not be judged too harshly
by those who engage in similar practices

[JewelD]

Even if the agency did screw up, the designer didn't have to say he wasn't hiring blacks. All he had to say was he had another look in mind.

He was entitled to cast for a certain look or theme, it was just insensitive to say something racist. But then, men do tend to be less sensitive in communicating. Just saying.