In June, when I partook in the #VogueChallenge, I brashly asked Vogue Australia to call me. THEY DID! (Via Instagram DM – how very 2020!)
Fast forward to August – and my Vogue cover was featured in this beautiful issue, alongside Marley Morgan, Bobbi Lockyer, Shanice Mwath, Toni-Louise Lord, Jame Telfer, Leicolhn McKellar, Sophia Chowdhury, Rubi Red and Khylee Fleek. Adut Akeh Bior is on the cover.
Now is the time to stop centering white, thin, non disabled women. Now is the time to represent what society really looks like – to show a diversity of bodies, faces, races, skin types and perspectives, it’s also time that diverse people wrote stories about ourselves – rather than being written about and othered, for someone else gaze. And we want to write about more than just our diversity.
I don’t want diversity to be a special edition, a buzzword or fad. I want to see it in every issue.
Big thanks to Karen who made my mock up cover, Grace from GiDi Creative for making this happen, and to Alice at Vogue for the collaborative writing experience. Can’t wait to do a photoshoot with you one day!
❤️
Next to the photo is text that reads
“SHANICE MWATHI
“I am a filmmaker and photographer. I’m originally from Nairobi, Kenya, but I grew up and am currently based in Perth, Western Australia.”
Tell us about the idea behind the image you created and the messages you wanted to capture in it.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted but I knew I wanted to rep the culture somehow and go bold, so I gathered all the traditional cloths we have in the house. We call them kangas or lesos, and they’re made of bright fabric and usually have a Swahili proverb written on them. I wanted to capture the essence of Vogue, its emphasis on individuality and the strong feminine energy present on every cover. I wanted my cover to be reminiscent of the sparkly softly lit divas of the 70s Soul Train era with a contemporary aesthetic.”
In what ways can the #VogueChallenge push us all to make collective change for a better industry in the long-term? “The #VogueChallenge is a knee-jerk reflex of the atmosphere we have seen brewing – that of re-examining the structures in society and determining whether or not these structures actually serve all of us. The energy of most people of colour is a deep sense of weariness in a world that does not afford them any rest. All over the world people have used this hashtag to take a stand against the general disregard big brands have for imagery featuring typically under-represented people. Change happens when this social media activitism manifests.”
Below Shanice’s article is my mock vogue cover and text:
“CARLY FINDLAY
“I am Carly Findlay OAM – writer, speaker, appearance activist, lifetime fan of Darren Hayes, lover of cheese, wearer of rainbows. I write and speak about what it’s like to live with a rare severe skin condition that causes a facial difference, aiming to change people’s perspectives of facial differences and skin conditions.”
Why did you decide to do the #VogueChallenge?
“I had seen other people of colour – including those with ichthyosis (the rare, severe skin condition I have) do the challenge. I put a call out on Twitter for someone to help Photoshop me onto Vogue, and a stranger did! I was thrilled!” Tell us about the idea and messages behind the final image you posted.
“I woke up and it was in my mentions and I squealed! [Karen] captured me so well [and I like the cover lines]: the two book titles; my mission; and the ‘fucking fabulous’ statement.”
What do you want to communicate about representation in the fashion and beauty industries in this image?
“There is no shame in being disabled, having a skin condition or facial difference. For years I would worry about skin flakes showing on my shoulders, or even not wanting to be in photos due to standing out. This was a result of the shame put upon me by others. I was at [comedian, journalist and activist] Stella Young’s memorial in December 2014 and hugged her sister. I left a big face print on her pink jacket – the print from my ointment. She told me not to apologise, and I remembered how Stella never apologised for taking up space. And so I stopped feeling so self-conscious. I wear what I want now. I see my colour as my accessory. I will not make myself less visible to make others more comfortable. I want all readers of fashion and beauty magazines to be able to see themselves, and not feel the shame that I felt for so long because I wasn’t represented. I want To be that change.”
Has this blog made you think differently about appearance diversity? Will you use it in your work? Please consider buying me a drink.
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