Watch: Naomi Campbell Advocates For More Diversity For Models

Naomi Campbell is at the One Young World Summit in Hague to voice out the need for change in the fashion industry, especially for black models

Naomi Campell is one of the world’s successful models. The model, who is a host and producer of the Global Citizen Festival taking place on 2 December 2018 spoke about issues of diversity at the One Young World open forum, which took place in October 2018. Campbell, who was in South Africa in July 2018 for the launch of the festival mentioned that there is still a need for the fashion industry to include women of colour in their campaigns and on their runways.

Her talk comes in light of the fashion and beauty industry starting to open up to the diverse ways we see beauty, as Naomi says in her talk that the modeling industry is not there yet, but things are getting better.

This made me think of inspirational models who are defying the norms and encouraging others to celebrate their own, unique beauty.

Amina Adan

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-IDnZH3Ol/?hl=en&taken-by=amina_adan

Discovered at a bus stop the Denmark native is the first hijab-wearing model to be signed to modeling agency Unique Models.

Adut Akech

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhxMQX8AIkp/?hl=en&taken-by=adutakech

The South Sudanese model first dark-skinned model with Afrocentric features to walk for the Chanel brand since Alek Wek.

Winnie Harlow

https://www.instagram.com/p/BosIBGcA7yw/?hl=en&taken-by=winnieharlow

Diagnosed with vitiligo at age four, the Canadian-born Winnie Harlow who was introduced to us on Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model, now splits her time between walking runways for big brands, gracing covers of magazines as well as public speaking.

Simone Thompson:

Better known as Slick Woods the 21-year-old model known for her carefree attitude and her gap; she models for Rihanna’s Fenty brand and Marc Jacobs. FYI Woods was actually discovered while living on the streets by British model Ash Stymest, who is credited with helping to launch her fashion career after he offered her weed at a bus stop. Rapper Kanye West also played a role in her rise as a global fashion sensation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BocDiIBl_ie/?hl=en&taken-by=slickwoods

Thando Hopa:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmdOMNIAWP_/?hl=en&taken-by=thandohopa

There’s more to Thando than beauty, she’s also a prosecutor, a cover star and a poet who works hard in breaking stereotypes, especially about albinism.

Kgothi ”Iman” Dithebe

Iman, is the first South African model with vitiligo and her confidence is one of her signatures that is slowly making her a household name in Mzansi.