Deddeh Howard is a 27-year-old model, medical student, and fashion blogger who lives in Los Angeles. Three months ago, she enlisted the help of her photographer boyfriend Raffael Dickreuter to create Black Mirror, a photo series that shows Howard recreating images from major ad campaigns that feature famous white models including Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Gisele Bündchen. Her powerful—and beautiful—images show the startling lack of diversity in mainstream media. The representation of women of color in ad campaigns especially is woefully inadequate. Hence, this powerful photo series.
"The next generation can only get inspired and reach for the stars themselves if they believe they can do it too," Howard writes on her blog, explaining her inspiration behind the project. She writes that women of color are often only included in media as "an afterthought," while white women get to see "Gisele Bundchen, Kate Moss, or Candice Swanepoel...travel the world, shoot the most amazing campaigns and live an exciting life to inspire young girls."
More on the importance of diversity:
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- 'America's Next Top Model' Is Back and More Diverse Than Ever
As Howard told Buzzfeed News, she was inspired to create this project by the discrimination she's faced as a model. "Agencies would often tell me, 'We like your look but there’s a black girl already,' she said. "It shouldn’t be limited to just one black girl; there can be more than one! It’s as if they [agencies] are ashamed to represent diversity. It’s very painful and it made me feel insecure and bad of myself."
Hopefully the incredible response to her project has Howard realizing what a beautiful, brave woman she really is.
Now, meet curvy model Paloma Elsesser:
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