BLACK GIRL

Giovonni, 24, Collingswood, NJ thumbnail
Macee, 18, Brooklyn, NY thumbnail
Bunnie (Mattress), 22, Harlem, NYC thumbnail
Aliya (Doorway), 23, Bronx, New York thumbnail
Johanie, 24, Midwood, Brooklyn, NY thumbnail
Lauren, 21, New York, NY thumbnail
Devin, 22. Bronx, NY thumbnail
Shanel, 21, Bronx, New York thumbnail
Shaquasa (Kneeling), 20, Harlem, New York City thumbnail
Felicia, 22, Harlem, New York City thumbnail
Tameeka, 22, Harlem, NYC thumbnail
Alisha, 19, Nanuet, NY thumbnail
Sandy, 21, Westbury, NY thumbnail
Twila, 21, Bronx, New York thumbnail
Diedre, 22, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn thumbnail
Julie, 21, Bushwick, Brooklyn. thumbnail
Ava, 34, Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY thumbnail
Queen (Backyard), 22. Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn thumbnail
Tavia, 24, North Bergen, NJ thumbnail
Geena, 19, Bedstuy, Brooklyn thumbnail
Donna, 21, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY thumbnail
Heaven, 21, Columbus Circle, NYC. thumbnail
Icy, 19. Bronx, NY thumbnail
Shelly, 21, Brooklyn, NY thumbnail
Cherry, 18, Bedford Park, Bronx thumbnail
Shakira, 21, Union, New Jersey thumbnail
Seony (Fence), 18, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY thumbnail
Giovonni, 24, Collingswood, NJ

Giovonni, 24, Collingswood, NJ

Macee, 18, Brooklyn, NY

Macee, 18, Brooklyn, NY

Bunnie (Mattress), 22, Harlem, NYC

Bunnie (Mattress), 22, Harlem, NYC

Aliya (Doorway), 23, Bronx, New York

Aliya (Doorway), 23, Bronx, New York

Johanie, 24, Midwood, Brooklyn, NY

Johanie, 24, Midwood, Brooklyn, NY

Lauren, 21, New York, NY

Lauren, 21, New York, NY

Devin, 22. Bronx, NY

Devin, 22. Bronx, NY

Shanel, 21, Bronx, New York

Shanel, 21, Bronx, New York

Shaquasa (Kneeling), 20, Harlem, New York City

Shaquasa (Kneeling), 20, Harlem, New York City

Felicia, 22, Harlem, New York City

Felicia, 22, Harlem, New York City

Tameeka, 22, Harlem, NYC

Tameeka, 22, Harlem, NYC

Alisha, 19, Nanuet, NY

Alisha, 19, Nanuet, NY

Sandy, 21, Westbury, NY

Sandy, 21, Westbury, NY

Twila, 21, Bronx, New York

Twila, 21, Bronx, New York

Diedre, 22, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Diedre, 22, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Julie, 21, Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Julie, 21, Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Ava, 34, Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY

Ava, 34, Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY

Queen (Backyard), 22. Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Queen (Backyard), 22. Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Tavia, 24, North Bergen, NJ

Tavia, 24, North Bergen, NJ

Geena, 19, Bedstuy, Brooklyn

Geena, 19, Bedstuy, Brooklyn

Donna, 21, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

Donna, 21, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

Heaven, 21, Columbus Circle, NYC.

Heaven, 21, Columbus Circle, NYC.

Icy, 19. Bronx, NY

Icy, 19. Bronx, NY

Shelly, 21, Brooklyn, NY

Shelly, 21, Brooklyn, NY

Cherry, 18, Bedford Park, Bronx

Cherry, 18, Bedford Park, Bronx

Shakira, 21, Union, New Jersey

Shakira, 21, Union, New Jersey

Seony (Fence), 18, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY

Seony (Fence), 18, East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY

READ MORE ABOUT BLACK GIRL
Fashion and modeling are industries not known for racial diversity and inclusion. Every Fashion Week, we see stories about the fashion industry being, with a few exceptions, insular, racist, and not reflecting world reality. Today there are perhaps more black women than ever before wishing to be models and pursuing fashion. This is due in part to the ubiquity and influence of reality television on contemporary American culture and shows like “America’s Next Top Model” offer a glimpse into the world of fashion. The upsurge of interest has given life to many amateur modeling websites, making connecting with photographers easier and creating a portfolio more affordable. Despite the industry’s historical fondness for whites, some black women have achieved this dream, become tremendously famous, and broken new ground. Dorothea Towles, Donyale Luna, Beverly Johnson, and Tyra Banks are but a few. Despite their successes, Essence Editor-in-Chief Constance C.R. White writes “Black models are [still] shunned, left out of lucrative advertisements and overlooked for editorials and runways.”

The intent of Black Girl was not to replicate high-end couture-type fashion shoots, that all too often employ copious amounts of fantasy and escapism, with women who looked like they could be models. In fact, I focused on real, everyday women (found on an amateur modeling website) who possess their own unique beauty but may not look like models at all. The possibility that they could be a ‘real’ model, for me, was irrelevant. The portraits are powerful and telling because we witness the diversity and passion of women who share the same dream, whether we, as the viewer, believe it’s a realistic pursuit or not.

Titled after a Lenny Kravitz song, Black Girl fuses fashion, modeling, portraiture, and documentary photography. The portraits are collaborative and so reveal something about the women photographed, both as a person and a model. In that sense, this series is ‘anti-fashion.’ Every model, for instance, is included in how she represents herself. Each wears her own clothes, styles herself, and does her own make-up. The resulting portrait reflects the model’s own personal taste. Fashion frequently uses cliche settings, like the beach, the desert, or the garden, and imbues them with an idyllic or mystical aura. In this series, the models are situated in indoor domestic or outdoor urban environments, often in the same areas where they live. The location itself becomes a supporting character that adds depth to the model as a person. Unencumbered by conventional ideas about fashion and modeling, this approach gives the women a voice and the power to enact their fantasies about beauty, the body, and femininity in ways they can’t in everyday life. Black Girl celebrates each woman’s distinctive beauty and style and offers a unique glimpse into her conception of herself and the importance of pursuing a dream undaunted.