Instagram benadrukt diversiteitsproblematiek in de mode met #RunwayForAll

De sociale media-app Instagram geeft een platform aan een diverse waaier aan modellen, die niet passen binnen de conventionele modewereld. Met de hashtag #RunwayForAll tonen ze dat mainstream schoonheidsidealen lang niet voor iedereen gelden en dat het tijd is dat de fashion scene dat erkent.

Om de diversiteit in de industrie in de spotlight te plaatsen, deelt Instagram foto’s van modellen die de standaarden van de industrie aan de kaak stellen. Hun persoonlijke verhaal wordt erbij geplaatst met de hashtag #RunwayForAll. Zo bereiken ze meteen 162 miljoen volgers, die mee kunnen nadenken over de diversiteitsproblematiek in de mode.

Slanke, ranke, blonde modellen van Westerse afkomst krijgen immers nog steeds de meeste jobs, terwijl de wereld een veel diverser aanbod aan schoonheid biedt. Het team van Instagram maakt duidelijk dat zij klaar zijn voor een modelandschap met modellen van allerlei soorten en maten. (LP)

“#RunwayForAll means any teenager feels represented when they open a magazine or watch a fashion show,” says Mama Cax (@caxmee). Mama grew up in Haiti, lives in New York City and never aspired to be a model — “not only because there were very few dark models on magazine covers but also because I grew up with very little knowledge of the fashion industry,” she says. “Eight years ago, after getting my leg amputated, the idea of being a model was even more far-fetched.” Today, Mama is modeling and doing other things that she was told there was no audience for, like sharing tips for traveling as a black female amputee. “The majority of humans do not look like the mainstream idea of beauty,” she says. “One of the greatest barriers is not belonging. Through modeling I hope to show that beauty does not always wear a size zero and beauty does not always walk on two limbs.” Every day this week, we’ll be sharing the story of a model who is redefining industry standards and making sure there’s room on the #RunwayForAll. Photo of @caxmee by @simonhuemaen

Een foto die is geplaatst door Instagram (@instagram) op 30 Mei 2016 om 8:00 PDT

“#RunwayForAll is a world where everyone is treated the same,” says Shaun Ross (@shaundross). When he started modeling nearly a decade ago, Shaun was the only male model of color with albinism. “I remember when I first entered the industry all I saw were models that looked the same,” he says. “Now here we are almost 10 years later, and I see the choice I’ve made has helped the industry to see beauty in many ways, such as casting models and rising icons like @winnieharlow, @jilly_peppa and more to help lead the fight with me to diversity.” When he started, Shaun was one of a few openly gay models in the industry. “Agents always told male models to be masculine, but that was never the case for me. I never wanted to hide my sexuality,” he says. “I’d rather be myself.” Photo by @shaundross

Een foto die is geplaatst door Instagram (@instagram) op 31 Mei 2016 om 8:02 PDT