As a black woman, if I want to rock braids, extensions, my natural hair or a relaxer, that is my prerogative.īlack women can experiment with their look, and are encouraged to explore our options. Whether my hair is blown out and straight, or thick and textured, seeing black women rocking whatever style of hair they have forces me to gain some much-needed confidence. In the above moment when I finally saw hair that looked like mine on the runway, I began to appreciate what I have. The real question, for young me and many others, is why can't the-girl-next-door, all-American woman have dark skin and thick thighs? I wasn't afraid of my blackness, though, because I was surrounded by strong, black women that enforced the importance of loving my background.īut it was still difficult when I would turn on the television or buy a magazine, and only be marketed one particular look. The content I consumed shaped my identity. When I was young, I was so impressionable. Many websites will tell you that diversity in the media is important for the younger generation, which is true. Racial Diversity On the Runway Is Important The models hail from the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, China and many more countries. Nearly 50 percent of the models are black, Asian or Hispanic, which is up 20 percent from last year. The 2017 show is actually the most diverse (racially) in the lingerie brand's history of Victoria's Secret shows. It's important to note that this year's lineup of models don't just look diverse. This year not only did I see woman of all shades (#yaaassss melanin!), but it's especially nice to see the mold of "Victoria Secret Hair" being shattered. Sigh.Īlthough I don't necessarily agree with how Victoria's Secret casts their show, and I think it's about time the world sees more curvy and plus-size models thrown into the mix (like hello my legs are not that long and my thighs do not look like that!), I can appreciate that I see myself racially showcased on the screen. I related to the suburban angst of Lizzie McGuire and still hope to find my Gordo, but the show couldn't help me deal with being the only black girl in the class when we talked about slavery during Black History Month. I was obsessed with Barbies, but their hair wasn't unruly like mine. Growing up, there were not many girls that looked like me in the media I consumed. Some may say it doesn't matter, but for those that have experienced racism because they look different, rest assured that this can cause a positive impact. Throughout all of this chaos, it's refreshing to see that the Victoria's Secret models 2017 represent a more diverse picture this year. Everyday, I have literally no idea what insanity I'll see on social media. Society is living in a time where racism is not more rampant, just finally out in the open.
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