Last month, Reuters published a thought-proving article titled: "Fat Models Stay In Africa As West Wants Size Zero." According to the article, women who are accepted as beautiful and suitable to model in Africa are more shapely but African modeling agencies are unable to sell their look abroad because the West is still fixated with the superskinny look. Ugandan fashion designer Sylvia Owori is quoted as saying, "Few Africans want to see a superskinny model ... I think most Ugandans would be disgusted. They'd think she'd just come out of the village and she was malnourished." You can read the full story at Reuters: www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL1655405120070422.
This issue runs deep—it is rumored that the career of former Face of Africa winner Benvinda Mudenge (1999) came to a screeching halt because of her weight. Perhaps this explains why African models who are naturally very skinny, like Oluchi, Iman and Alek Wek have acheived iconic status. But what kind of message does that send to girls at home who dream of making it big in the industry?
.MIMI Features Link: Catwalks, Cameras And Covers www.mimimagazine.com/november2006/02-08-catwalks01.html
.(Photo Credits: Ivan Naudé)
