After years of feeling frustrated over the limited opportunities for models of colour, Liberian born, LA based model and blogger Deddeh Howard has embarked on a project to highlight the space available for non-white faces. In her new venture, The Black Mirror project, she and photographer Raffael Dickreuter are recreating glossy campaigns with Deddeh standing in for white models.
She was inspired to make a demonstration about the narrow way models are cast after several discouraging experiences with agencies. On her blog she explained: “Even though I was told by agencies that I have an amazing look and [they] wish they could represent me, they already have a black model. Besides having an abundance of white models. It seemed as if one or two black models on the roster are enough to represent us all.”
She chose to spotlight brands who had repeatedly failed to cast non-white models. Speaking to Mic she added, “We were surprised to find out that there were so many of them.”
Credits
Text Wendy Syfret
Images via Secret of DD