The Desperate Need for Visibility in the Fashion Industry

Growing up watching America’s Next Top Model, I fell in love with fashion and modelling — all I wanted was to be a supermodel. I quickly realized that none of those girls in the earlier seasons looked anything like me and not only did I not feel represented, I felt ugly.

The fashion industry is extremely exclusive when it comes to models. Looking back through past and the majority of present-day runway shows and editorial photoshoots, it is extremely rare to see a model who is not at least five foot seven with a size double zero waist and a flawless face. The traditional standard of “model” beauty can be extremely problematic for those who don’t necessarily fit that unrealistic mould. Growing up watching America’s Next Top Model, I fell in love with fashion and modelling — all I wanted was to be a supermodel. I quickly realized that none of those girls in the earlier seasons looked anything like me and not only did I not feel represented, I felt ugly. …