It’s a two-sided story, for Africans living in Africa, a story of joy, aspirations and how dreams can come true, but for Africans in America, who have been waiting in line, along with other unprivileged casts that have witnessed these stunts before, the “celebration” comes with a lot of mistrust and tainted eyes about the obviously-black girls appearing on the cover of the Vogue British February Issue. A question that stupefies black people is one that wonders why they can’t be presented in their normalcy, unlike but usually, only a weapon, being fronted on a cover page to push a narrative that is not completely true. It’s no wonder that these photos have attracted a backlash. “When you look at these beautiful girls, their features are distorted by poor lighting, and dark editing which makes them unrealistically super black.” one person commented on Instagram.
On a cover that celebrates the contribution of African models and how they are changing the diplomatic scenes in the fashion industry, one wonders why the girls, each with distinctively beautiful features look unidentifiably similar and unnaturally black. Yet once again, a true reminder of how the industry looks at them, as “another one”
The models Adut Aketch, Amar Akway, Anok Yai, Nyagua Ruea, Abeny Nhial, Majesty Amare, Dibaa Mqty, Janet Jumbo and Akon Changkou are from Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Nigeria and Ethiopia paint the face of the February British Vogue issue with dark hues, as photographed by Rafael Pavarotti.
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