Today we watched The Colour of Beauty, a short documentary about racism in the fashion industry. The film 
follows a young black woman who is trying to make it as a top model. Along this journey, Filmmaker Elizabeth St. Phillip includes testimony from industry professionals (magazine editors, modeling agents, etc.) who offer their insight on beauty standards and barriers that black and brown women face in the fashion business.
The REEL Filmmakers had a spirited discussion after viewing this film. Ketty and Victoria share their reactions to the film here:
“Today in the fashion industry we see mostly white faces. [According to the film The Colour of Beauty] in [a recent] fashion week 87% of the women were white, 6% were black, 6% Spanish, and 1% Asian women. So for me as a black girl I would have to try really hard if I want to be a top model. If we are all equal why are white women still getting pick over everyone else? The black girls that are chosen in the fashion industry have to have a white girl look. To this is not fair because just cause i’m black and i don’t have the looks of white women should not mean that i could not be chosen to be a model.” (Ketty)
“In response to The Colour of Beauty, directed by Elizabeth St. Phillip, the fashion industry is messed up. I always dreamed about being one of those fashion critics along side those runways at fashion week, but if I can’t see another race besides white, I’m not going to want to see it. I’d rather stay home, or waste my time somewhere else. They said for a black model to ‘make it’ in the fashion industry, they must look like a “white model dipped in chocolate.” Its not racism, its prejudice I guess, its not right. Black girls or even Latinos, or Asian girls shouldn’t be so afraid to get a call back when a white girl can go in and say ‘I got this’. First of all, it’s not fair. It’s not fair to the model or to the audience, maybe sometimes not even to the modeling industry. The fashion industry needs to open their eyes and realize that people, REAL PEOPLE are watching.” (Victoria)
The REEL Film Experience 