“When I was younger, I encountered this same issue,” said Naomi. She continued, “I would be backstage at shows and there would be stylists who didn’t have any experience working with black models. It’s disappointing to hear that models of color are still encountering these same issues all these years later.”
Icon and inclusion champion and pioneer, Bethann Hardison, lent her thoughts on the subject. “If you don’t have models of color [being booked for a show], there’s no point in practice. “Often girls didn’t get the job if there was difficulty for the technician to actually do their hair.”
She would always bring her own products to shows and was well-versed in doing her own hair and makeup because of the technicians’ lack of experience. She suggests today’s models of color learn how to do the same. “I’d always bring my own products — my own makeup colors, hair products everything — just to be sure that I had everything I needed to achieve a certain look. I came along during a timeframe when girls with darker skin knew how to make their own makeup. They learned from Naomi Sims. If the makeup artist didn’t have [their shade], they knew how to mix [foundations] together to get their exact color.”
Naturally, she doesn’t view this as an excuse on the part of the technicians and notes the inequality when it comes to skill sets between white artists and those of color. “The technicians should start learning. People need to be educated. The average black technician can do anyone’s hair and anyone’s makeup because they have to in order to get the job.”
Naomi, Bethann, and Iman are a part of Balance Diversity: an initiative started by Bethann’s advocacy group Diversity Coalition. “I think this issue only underscores the importance of what Bethann Hardison, Iman, and I are doing with Balance Diversity. We’re using our voices to encourage the industry to be inclusive of racial diversity. And this applies to everything from casting models of color to having resources they need for shows, like hair and makeup.”
Bethann believes the media—both diversity reports, stories, and social—are great ways to bring awareness to the issue and make change happen. “You need the press. To make things change, there has to be a blow-horn. It puts pressure on technicians to learn. It makes them stand on their toes and they become more conscious of it. Speak your piece. If you have even one or two people’s minds change or become aware, you’ve accomplished something.”
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