The fashion catwalks have not always been diverse. For many years, we saw the same type of model strut down the runway with the same body type and skin complexion—skinny and very fair. Every now and then to avoid being called out for racism some designers would have 1 or 2 models of color to walk their show. Obviously, that isn’t okay.
Modeling might not be viewed in the same way as being a doctor, but it’s importance as a profession is real. Fashion is a multimillion-dollar industry that needs to be representative of the world at large; it needs to show more diversity. With the rise of social media, our community’s voice got louder and stronger, and we were able to call out certain injustices on the spot. We put a spotlight on the designer brands that we deemed as less inclusive and demanded that they showed fair representation of our culture in their ads and on their catwalks.
It seems that some of these fashion houses have taken heed as this season their runways were filled with glorious models of various ethnicities and hues. And though we’ve made a lot of progress on the runways, we still have a ways to go.
Here’s a selection of the beautiful Black models flexing their stuff this season on the catwalks of New York, London, Milan and Paris. Get into their gorgeous melanin, below.
Laura Reyes for Altuzarra. Image: courtesy of Altuzarra
Ajok Daing for Altuzarra. Image: courtesy of Altuzarra
Akon Changkou for Altuzarra. Image: courtesy of Altuzarra
Elvina Patrick for Area. Image: Sergio Rossi for Area
Apollo Yom for Area. Image: Sergio Rossi for Area
Ajok Daing for Area. Image: Sergio Rossi for Area
Maty Gall Diba for Brandon Maxwell. Image: courtesy of Brandon Maxwell
Anyiel Majok for Brandon Maxwell. Image: courtesy of Brandon Maxwell
Anyiel Piok Majok for Brandon Maxwell. Image: courtesy of Brandon Maxwell
Vic Cayo for Coach. Image: courtesy of Coach
Marlee Guillory for Coach. Image: courtesy of Coach
Ahmed Richards for Coach. Image: courtesy of Coach
Mamuor Majeng for Dion Lee. Image: courtesy of Dion Lee
Anyiang Yak for Dion Lee. Image: courtesy of Dion Lee
Malick Bodian for Gabriela Hearst. Image: Greg Kessler for Gabriela Hearst
Lineisy Montero for Gabriela Hearst. Image: Greg Kessler for Gabriela Hearst
Razak Salifou for Luar. Image: Gregoire Avene for Luar
Simone EmbracK for Prabal Gurung. Image: Dan Lecca for Prabal Gurung
Aweng for Prabal Gurung. Image: Dan Lecca for Prabal Gurung
Awet for Prabal Gurung. Image: Dan Lecca for Prabal Gurung
Shanelle Nyasiase for Puppets and Puppets. Image: courtesy of Puppets and Puppets
Gloria Maria for Puppets and Puppets. Image: courtesy of Puppets and Puppets
Skarla Ali for Puppets and Puppets. Image: courtesy of Puppets and Puppets
Laura Reyes for Simkhai. Image: Filippo Fior for Simkhai
Fatou Samb for Simkhai. Image: Filippo Fior for Simkhai
Akuol Deng Atem for Simkhai. Image: Filippo Fior for Simkhai
Reign Judge for Sandy Liang. Image: courtesy of Sandy Liang
Kendall Baisden for Sandy Liang. Image: courtesy of Sandy Liang
Debra Shaw for Thom Browne. Image: courtesy of Thom Browne
Romaine Dixon for Thom Browne. Image: courtesy of Thom Browne
Adamu Bulus for Thom Browne. Image: courtesy of Thom Browne
Amirah Jenkins for Kevan Hall. Image: courtesy of Kevan Hall
Rebecca Gaynor for Kevan Hall. Image: courtesy of Kevan Hall
Ife Bowman for Kevan Hall. Image: courtesy of Kevan Hall
Eman Deng for Hellessy. Image: courtesy of Hellessy
Ayesha Sesay for Hellessy. Image: courtesy of Hellessy
Briana Michelle for Hellessy. Image: courtesy of Hellessy
Samb Fatou for Markarian. Image: courtesy of Markarian
Claudia Lamprea for Markarian. Image: courtesy of Markarian
Hilary Cerezo for PatBO. Image: Darian DiCianno for PatBO
Elah Garcia for PatbO. Image: Darian DiCianno for PatBO
Vitorinni for PatBO. Image: Darian DiCianno for PatBO
Johanna-Ortiz. Image: courtesy of photo: Paolo Lanzi / Gorunway.com
Johanna-Ortiz. Image: courtesy of photo: Paolo Lanzi / Gorunway.com
Johanna-Ortiz. Image: courtesy of photo: Paolo Lanzi / Gorunway.com
Nyakong Chan for Nina Ricci. Image: courtesy of Nina Ricci
Precious Lee for Nina Ricci. Image: courtesy of Nina Ricci
Debra Shaw for Nina Ricci. Image: courtesy of Nina Ricci
Anok Yai for Paco Rabanne. Image: courtesy of Paco Rabanne
Alaato Jazyper for Paco Rabanne. Image: courtesy of Paco Rabanne
Allana Santos Brito for Paco Rabanne. Image: courtesy of Paco Rabanne
Anyier Anei for Fendi. Image: courtesy of Fendi
Rejoice Chuol for Fendi. Image: courtesy of Fendi
Ombeni Jean for Diesel. Image: courtesy of Diesel
Moustapha Sy for Iceberg. Image: courtesy of Iceberg
Aviana M for Iceberg. Image: courtesy of Iceberg
Philyne Mercedes for Iceberg. Image: courtesy of Iceberg
Naomi Campbell for Alexander McQueen. Image: courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Jimai Hoth for Alexander McQueen. Image: courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Nyibol Dok Jok for Alexander McQueen. Image: courtesy of Alexander McQueen
Image: Valerio Mezzanotti for Ann Demeulemeester
Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti
Image: Valerio Mezzanotti for Ann Demeulemeester
Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti
Image: Valerio Mezzanotti for Ann Demeulemeester
Photo by Valerio Mezzanotti
Rayan Lazac for Off-White. Image: courtesy of Off-White
Adut Akech for Off-White. Image: courtesy of Off-White
Image: Carlo Scarpato for Chloe
Image: Carlo Scarpato for Chloe
Image: Carlo Scarpato for Chloe
Denyse Tumukunde for Lanvin. Image: courtesy of Lanvin
Malick Bodian for Lanvin. Image: courtesy of Lanvin
Rejoice Chuol for Lanvin. Image: courtesy of Lanvin
Anyier Anei for Schiaparelli. Image: courtesy of Schiaparelli
Abény Nhial for Schiaparelli. Image: courtesy of Schiaparelli
Nyawurh Chuol for Schiaparelli. Image: courtesy of Schiaparelli
Samile Bermannelli for Louis Vuitton. Image: courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Zaya Wade for Miu Miu. Image: courtesy of Miu Miu
Kendall Baisden for Miu Miu. Image: courtesy of Miu Miu
Ornella Umutoni for Miu Miu. Image: courtesy of Miu Miu
Temperley London. Image: John Phillips/BFC/Getty Images for BFC
Temperley London. Image: John Phillips/BFC/Getty Images for BFC
Temperley London. Image: John Phillips/BFC/Getty Images for BFC
Saint Laurent. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Saint Laurent. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Saint Laurent. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Balmain Fall. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Balmain Fall. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Balmain Fall. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Chanel. Image: Victor Boyko for Getty Images
Chanel. Image: Pascal Le Segretain for Getty Images
Chanel. Image: Pascal Le Segretain for Getty Images
Burberry. Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage for Getty Images
Burberry. Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage for Getty Images
Burberry. Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage for Getty Images
Gucci. Image: Daniele Venturelli for Getty Images for Gucci
Gucci. Image: Daniele Venturelli for Getty Images for Gucci
Gucci. Image: Daniele Venturelli for Getty Images for Gucci
Ferragamo. Image: Arnold Jerocki for Getty Images
Ferragamo. Image: Arnold Jerocki for Getty Images
Ferragamo. Image: Arnold Jerocki for Getty Images
Max Mara. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Max Mara. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
Max Mara. Image: Giovanni Giannoni/WWD for Getty Images
