Ford Models Debuts New Talent Promo Dedicated To Black Women

July 21st, 2011

Yesterday, our friends at Fashionista got their hands on some behind-the-scenes photos of a project Ford Models has in the works: a special media kit to promote the black models employed by its various divisions. And while it’s not exactly as mainstream as an entire issue of a magazine or high-fashion ad campaign being dedicated to black models, it’s got to be a step in the right direction. Right?

Because you can look at the project, which features both straight size and plus size models, in one of two ways. Initially our optimism got the better of us, and told us that Ford legitimately wants to see black models featured more often. “These are the women you have been overlooking!” the project seemed to scream. “Start paying more attention!” Because while there might be more black models featured in fashion today, there still aren’t all that many. You see your Jourdan Dunns and your Chanel Imans here and there, but the small number of working black models still doesn’t come close to representing the number of black women there are in our society at large.

And that sad fact reminded us that, well, we just don’t see enough black models, and the necessity of something like a special promotion to tout how good these models are — because they are good, and their goodness merits their inclusion in campaigns and editorials galore — is just plain sad. And because of that, putting together a special promotion on black models — and only black models — could be misconstrued as another way to segregate them from the domineering of skinny white girls from Eastern Europe. “Hey, for thatone short spread you’re doing with black models, look no further than this handy catalog!”

Either way you look at it, the fact remains that Ford is trying to get its black models more work. And that’s certainly a good thing. We’re just not sure what motivated the new project — or if casting directors will actually take notice of it.

Via W Magazine