When it comes to fashion, women have been calling the shots throughout the industry. Although women largely represent the consumers, models, textile makers, designers, photographers, writers and fashion influencers in the field, only 29 percent of creative directors for fashion houses are women, which is a huge increase from 3 percent in 2008 according to a statistic. The issue is C-suite representation.
Although, the fashion industry is known to continuously fail women of color with only 20 percent of models walking in high fashion catwalks or on the cover of Vogue, Harper Bazar and LOVE being women of color.
While the industry has a long way to go in terms of becoming inclusive, embracing diversity and celebrating all people's beauty, women of color are showing the industry they are not backing down. These are 10 of the amazing women of color who are shaping the fashion industry, among many other inspirational women.
10 Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks is a legend, to say she is a '90s fashion icon neglects to recognize her influence over the years. One of her greatest contributions to fashion was her show, America's Next Top Model for which she discovered many incredible women.
From high fashion catwalks to being the first Black model to sign with Victoria's Secret she walked as an Angel for the brand for eight years. She continues to work as an entrepreneur to this day.
9 Iman
From philanthropy to inspiring fashion giants, and not to mention being David Bowie's wife, the Somalian model has made a huge impact on the fashion industry.
She inspired designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein and Versace, but the list goes on and on. Other than continuing to work and inspire fashion, she dedicates time to raising funds for AIDS research and helping refugees.
8 Grace Jones
Grace Jones is an icon to say the least, and she turns the catwalk into a full-on performance. Other than fashion and modeling, she is a singer, actor and producer.
The Jamaican model has been strutting her stuff and creating art since the '70s, but she continues to steal the show such as her performance in the Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya show - who by the way is another inspiration women of color making a huge impact on fashion and entertainment.
7 Jourdan Dunn
Jordan Dunn became an overnight success in 2006 and became the first Black model to sign with Prada. In the last almost two decades of her career, she continues to work for fashion giants such as Burberry and Liu Jo.
Being a breakthrough model and woman of color, she is open about her experiences as a Black model and the difficulties she has faced with getting campaigns. Dunn users her platform to shake the industry and demand inclusion.
6 Halima Aden
Halima Aden was the first contestant on Miss Minnesota USA to wear a hijab, and the first Muslim model in Sports Illustrated to wear a head covering and burkini in the swimsuit edition.
Through her success and impressive representation, she signed with IMG models. Her career is just taking off and is bound to have a huge impact.
5 Paloma Elsesser
Paloma Elsesser has an impressive runway record with all the top fashion houses such as Alexander McQueen, Savage Fenty and Victoria's Secret to name a few.
Elsesser and fellow body-positive model Ashley Graham graced the covers of Vogue together. From the recent Bad Bunny version of The Macarena to catwalks around the world and even print, Elsesser has a very promising career and impact.
4 Joan Smalls
Joan Smalls is another icon of the fashion world. She was the first Latinx person to sign an Estee Lauder campaign in 2011 and continues to walk in fashion shows around the world today.
In 2020 she pledged half of her wages to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Smalls is demanding diversity and inclusion in fashion, and for all people of color around the world.
3 Adut Akech
Adut Akech was a South Sudanese refugee before moving to Australia. Her modeling career took off when she was signed to Saint Laurent in 2017 but in the last 5 years has walked in shows for fashion giants such as Dior, Givenchy and many more.
Aside from winning model of the year in the 2019 British Fashion Awards, she continues to use her platform to collaborate with the UN to support refugees around the world. Akech is an inspiration and force to be reckoned with.
2 Rihanna
Rihanna is a woman who can do it all from Grammy-winning albums to becoming a self-made billionaire, entrepreneur and luxury fashion creative director. Her next endeavor? Motherhood!
Rihanna's label, Savage Fenty was created for all body types and genders. Their makeup line is also known to be inclusive to people with darker skin tones, they are leading the way for more diverse fashion.
1 Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow is a model for many fashion names like Victoria's Secret and graced the cover of Vogue several times. As a child, she faced bullying for her skin condition, vitiligo, and has overcome these obstacles and is now one of the top names in the industry.
She got her start on America's Next Top Model and is pathing the way for models in the fashion industry who break European beauty standards.
