Monday, June 21, 2010

Who's that Girl?

Yesterday, Models.com posted the newest Prada campaign for the Fall/Winter 2010 season, photographed by Steven Meisel. Like I've said before on this blog, being cast in the Prada campaign is probably one of the best jobs a model can book. So naturally, I'm always very curious to see who landed the big gig. Take a look!

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This season the campaign stars supermodel Angela Lindvall and Mathias Bergh. Other models in the campaign include Valerija Kelava and Kim Dall Armi, Daria Strokous and Clement Chabernaud, Mark Cox and Sigrid Agren.

When you take a closer look at the ad, you can see that there is also an unidentified model in the background who happens to be african american. This is the first time there has ever been racial diversity in a Prada campaign.

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Part of me wants to celebrate this newfound diversity in the Prada ads, but the other part of me can't help but wonder exactly how progressive this ad is, considering the only black girl is alone in the background, covered by shadows and completely unidentifiable. Isn't it actually a little racist?

Any ideas on who is model is? My guess is Shena Moulton or Joan Smalls.

What are your thoughts about this campaign?

xox Meggasus

13 comments:

ilsteviewonder said...

I like the ad but I understand where your coming from its like they don't even want her there.

Francesca said...

Hm. Well I guess I could see it in a lot of ways. Maybe it's simply just another model they wanted for the background who happened to be black. It could be racism, but I find sometimes these things are overevaluated. It's a lovely campaign, though!

this free bird said...

i have to say i've been thinking about this post all day and the potentially racial vibe to it. you've most def got my wheels turning.

i am a big fan of prada, particularly miu miu and long before the sparrow prints swept the market this spring. interesting points you've brought up.

and ps - i have to tell you this one: did you watch laguna beach when it was on mtv? one time last summer i rolled into a mexican restaurant with the chef and we were looking at the menu when the server walked up. she asked what what she could get me to drink and when i looked up it was JESSICA! remember her? from all that drama btwn lc and jessica over that wingnut jason?? it was a gas!! she was super cute and helpful. i left her a tip w/a note to drop the zero and get a hero. ahahahahaha

she was busting up when i walked away!!

Leah said...

I agree with you... I find it a little racist considering that the girl is in the background and quite unidentifiable. I love the images though. xoxo

Dusk said...

Hmmm... unfortunately I too think it's racist or 'token diversity', like the "all black" issue of Italian Vogue. That was such an embarassment for the human species.

Racial diversity means ALL races not seclusion nor segregation.

BUT... having said all that... once you look at the ad, really look, the dark model is all you can focus on. Your eye gets drawn towards the back, the 'shadows', which then becomes the highlight.
...And of course Meisel loves his exotic beauties. He loves Naomi Campbell. So maybe that was his subliminal racial message!

Or I could be reading too much in to it. Whatever. The ad itself doesn't do too much for me.

SARAH said...

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luciana said...

Thank you so much. I love your Blog :-*

MY REPUBLIC OF FASHION said...

I totally understand where you are coming from. Just don't understand it. Thanks for your comment on my blog.sarahD:)

Anonymous said...

great photos!

Culture Served Raw said...

Lovely photos but I have to agree with you. I am often accused of reading too deeply into these things, but that would've been the first thing I noticed too!! A thoughtful post

val

Heather Feemster said...

It does seem a bit out of place and weird for her to be alone in the back...even if it was unintentional you would think someone in the company would be smart enough to notice it's not totally pc , this world never ceases to amaze me. Now I'm interested to see if this becomes a topic.......

Anonymous said...

Great topic you've brought up girls, I often wonder about when the fashion world will evolve and stop this madness. Intentional or not, it was a bad move...

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