Here is an excerpt of the article from our friends at IFashion:
"International supermodel Oluchi Onweagba says she has been snubbed by some top South African magazines — because they won’t put blacks on their covers. The Nigerian-born beauty, who won the first Face of Africa competition in 1997, claims that local editions of Glamour and GQ magazine — which belong to the Condé Nast Independent Magazines stable — refused to have her on their covers because she is black.
Oluchi said: "As a Nigerian and an African I have done so much in my career to represent everything African in Western countries. There is a diverse group of people in South Africa, be it black, white, Asian."What baffles me is them saying they can’t put a black person on the cover of the South African edition."She said GQ had scheduled an editorial shoot with her in Cape Town but cancelled at the last minute.A GQ South Africa insider revealed that the magazine has never had a black model on its cover.
GQ editor Craig Tyson said: "I am not responsible for bookings, my creative director is, so I will have to consult him before making a comment."Oluchi admitted that though she could not make the date for a Glamour shoot, this was used as an excuse to exclude her, even though she was willing to reschedule." Read the rest here and let us know your thoughts.
Oluchi said: "As a Nigerian and an African I have done so much in my career to represent everything African in Western countries. There is a diverse group of people in South Africa, be it black, white, Asian."What baffles me is them saying they can’t put a black person on the cover of the South African edition."She said GQ had scheduled an editorial shoot with her in Cape Town but cancelled at the last minute.A GQ South Africa insider revealed that the magazine has never had a black model on its cover.
GQ editor Craig Tyson said: "I am not responsible for bookings, my creative director is, so I will have to consult him before making a comment."Oluchi admitted that though she could not make the date for a Glamour shoot, this was used as an excuse to exclude her, even though she was willing to reschedule." Read the rest here and let us know your thoughts.
4 comments:
.... and oluchi onweagba is married to a white man, so what's the point then???
am just wondering.....
Anonymous, not so sure I get you. Could u explain the "married to a white man" part? Iman is married to a white man-Davie Bowie, Naomi dates mostly white men. Surely u r not suggesting that dating a white man precludes a black/African woman from pointing out racism? Are you?
I happen to agree with Oluchi. I have said it time and time again that I find it appalling that in an African country, images of those within the country are barely represented in fashion magazines. I know True Love SA is sort of like the Essence magazine in SA does that. I think the new mag, Destiny also does the same. But, this needs to be pointed put. I am suprised it took Oluchi this long but I can understand how hard it can be to find your voice. She has the platform and the voice now and I think she should speak loud and clear and hopefully stimulate real talk and ultimately change.
"Triggering the Grand Irrationality?"
Cowering in an obscure corner of the food pyramid
somewhere between the tofu and the unflavored yogurt
contemplating the juxtaposition of intangibles for all you are worth.....
@ ladybrille: thanks for ur question. what i meant is that, "oluchi is married to luca luca, a well known white man." ....so is iman and naomi dates only wealthy white men - as u rightly pointed out.
my concerns are, why should oluchi's case be different? naomi has appeared on the cover of vogue magazine. iman has a thriving cosmetic brand and i bet she has appeared in either cosmopolitan or vogue, if not, both.
is it because of oluchi's humble background or is that she just doesn't "kiss ass?" i'm not sure, you know... that is why i am asking.
but it is good that oluchi is beginning to voice out their wrong, in which i hope that they will make it right, in due time.
Post a Comment