A young model has called out hair stylists for being unable to style black hair at fashion shows.
21-year-old Olivia Anakwe took to Instagram to discuss an incident in which she said she was 'ignored' by hair stylists at a fashion show because they were unable to style her hair.
Olivia, who grew up in a Nigerian-American family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was preparing to walk the runway back stage in Paris Fashion Week last week when she realized that there was no stylist available who was able to do her hair.
Spreading awareness: Olivia Anakwe took to Instagram last week to write about an experience she encountered, whereby no stylist was able to do her hair, during Paris Fashion Week
Message: The 21-year-old model, from Pennsylvania, said she was backstage at a show, where she was told she would have cornrows styled in her hair
Not good enough: After one stylist attempted and failed to do the cornrows, Olivia had to ask two models if they could style her hair, before a nail technician ended up doing her hair
Fair: Olivia said that no matter how small a backstage team is, there should always be someone who is capable of styling afro texture hair, or 'just hire a black hairstylist', she said
Olivia is no stranger to the modeling industry.
Since she began working in fashion a few years ago, after being scouted by an agent in New York City's West Village, she has worked with dozens of big-name brands, including Kate Spade, Burberry and Alexa Chung.
She has also featured in several campaigns for major labels including Saint Laurent and Glossier.
But while working recently at Paris Fashion Week, which ran from February 25 until March 5, Olivia experienced something she said was disheartening.
Taking to Instagram, she posted two videos that showed her sitting in a chair having her hair done by two different stylists who were attempting to do cornrows.
Curious: Olivia said black hairstylists are required to be able to do all hair types, and she added: 'Why does the same not apply to others?'
Alongside the clips, Olivia wrote a message that she said hoped would spread awareness and reach anyone in the 'hair field' to expand their skill set to be able to style all hair types.
She said: 'Black models are still asking for just one hairstylist on every team no matter where your team is from to care for afro hair.
'I was asked to get out of an empty chair followed by having hairstylists blatantly turning their backs to me when I would walk up to them, to get my hair done.
'If I am asked to wear my natural hair to a show, the team should prepare the style just as they practice the look and demo for non-afro hair,' she added.
Olivia, who works as a model while also studying psychology at New York’s Pace University, said she arrived backstage at a fashion show last week where she was told that stylists would be doing cornrows on her hair, but 'not one person on the team knew how to do them'.
She continued: 'After one lady attempted and pulled my edges relentlessly, I stood up to find a model who could possibly do it. After asking two models and then the lead/only nail stylist, she was then taken away from her job to do my hair.
'This is not okay. This will never be okay. This needs to change. No matter how small your team is, make sure you have one person that is competent at doing afro texture hair care OR just hire a black hairstylist!
'Black hairstylists are required to know how to do everyone’s hair, why does the same not apply to others? It does not matter if you don’t specialize in afro hair, as a continuous learner in your field you should be open to what you have yet to accomplish; take a class.
Change: The model, who also studies psychology, said she was ignored and forgotten backstage at the fashion show, and that she 'felt' it
Praise: Since Olivia posted about the incident, her post has received over 5,000 likes and over 300 comments as many people have praised her for raising awareness about the issue
Versatile: Olivia has been modelling for approximately five years, and has worked with a number of brands including Kate Spade, Burberry and Alexa Chung
She added: 'I was ignored, I was forgotten, and I felt that. Unfortunately I’m not alone, black models with afro texture hair continuously face these similar unfair and disheartening circumstances. It’s 2019, it’s time to do better.'
It is not known which show Olivia was preparing to walk in when the incident occurred, however, she appeared on the catwalk for a variety of brands during Paris Fashion Week, including Thom Browne, Yohji Yamamoto, NOBI TALAI, and Rahul Mishra.
Since Olivia posted the message to her Instagram account, where she boasts a following of 24,000 people, she has been praised for speaking out about the issue.
One user commented on the post, saying: 'Thank you for bringing awareness to this,' while another said: 'Thank you for sharing, you’re absolutely right.'
Spreading the message: Olivia follows a number of models including Naomi Campbell and Mondone Myers - both of whom have called out hair stylists for their lack of skills in working with black model's hair
Another wrote: 'Wowww this is terrible and so sad smh sorry you had to experience. I was thinking about this a few days ago, like why is it so rare that I ever see black hairstylists on set.
'They will do a damn good job! Or hire widely practiced hair/makeup artists. It’s truly so sad that this is still one of the many issues circling the fashion industry,' they added.
A different user branded the incident as a 'disgrace', as they thanked Olivia for sharing the details of her experience with others.
Grateful for the support, Olivia posted an Instagram highlight to her page in which she thanked people for supporting her. She said: 'I really appreciate all the love, and I'm sending out all the good energy and positive vibrations out there.'
And although Olivia's post has gathered much attention, she isn't the first model to speak out about the issue.
Naomi Campbell, 48, spoke to Teen Vogue in 2016, when she said she encountered a similar issue to Olivia.
She told the publication: 'When I was younger, I encountered this same issue. I would be backstage at shows and there would be stylists who didn’t have any experience working with black models.
'It’s disappointing to hear that models of color are still encountering these same issues all these years later,' she added.
Similarly, back in October 2017, model Londone Myers shared her experiences from Paris Fashion Week, when she posted a video to Instagram that showed several white models getting their hair done while she sat waiting.
She said: 'I don't need special treatment from anyone. What I need is for hairstylists to learn how to do black hair. I'm so tired of people avoiding doing my hair at shows. How dare you try to send me down the runway with a linty busted afro. We all know if you tried that on a white model you'd be #canceled.
'If one doesn't stand we all fall. If it isn't my fro it'll probably be yours,' she added.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/12/model-calls-out-hairstylists-for-being-unable-to-do-black-hair-during-paris-fashion-week/
Main photo article A young model has called out hair stylists for being unable to style black hair at fashion shows.
21-year-old Olivia Anakwe took to Instagram to discuss an incident in which she said she was ‘ignored’ by hair stylists at a fashion show because they were unable to style her...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/11/18/10846112-6796183-Spreading_awareness_Olivia_Anakwe_took_to_Instagram_last_week_to-m-167_1552328886768.jpg
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