Model Tyson Beckford Would Like To See More Color On The Runway, We Would Like To See More Tyson Anywhere

Model Tyson Beckford has not been impressed with Fashion Week’s crop of models. We can’t help it if we’re only 5 foot 4, Tyson, gee:

This season’s attempt at using more diverse casting hasn’t exactly floored Tyson Beckford in terms of its diversity. Before Thursday’s Reem Acra show, he said, “It’s a problem we’re working on. A lot of designers are aware of it, but we want to make more designers conscientious of it. I don’t mean just black. We’re also talking about Latino and Asian. [These companies need to know] your customer is not just one race. You never want to cater to just one race. You can call that racism.”

We’re going to forgive him for racializing Latinos because, well. We endorse his sentiment and think he’s well-intentioned. And while we’re sure that it isn’t only the rich-white-Upper-Eastsider-or-LA-tanorexic who buys designer clothing, we’re not exactly sure what demographic actually purchases fashion off the runway anyway. But that’s the business side of model-selection. As for the social ramifications of choosing certain models, well, to be perfectly honest, we’ve never much cared whether models are Black, White, Anglo, Asian, Latina, skinny, fat or a conjoined twin because we’ve never seen them as role models or even as icons of beauty or fashion - we seem them as hangers meant to display clothing, hair and makeup trends.

Sure, adding a wide range of racial and ethnic groups, or even a range of body types, on the runway could add visual interest, but it makes us uncomfortable when designers and casting agencies are encouraged to use diverse models under the guise that these individuals act as role models for others. Not that we see anything inherently wrong with making a living modeling clothing and products, but why should these men and women be heralded as people to look up to? They look great and can take direction well; these aren’t qualities that can be learned or that should be heralded above thinking or creating for oneself.

But what do we know.

We’re going to go ahead and snort a rail off this model dude’s pelvis now. Yay Friday!

Fashion Scoops [WWD. 2nd Item]