I was looking through the new H&M magazine when my boyfriend, who, ironically, happens to be Latino, points out to me that the one and only Black model in the entire catalog is light-skinned with loosely textured hair and narrow, European features. To which he begs the question: Why aren’t there any Black male supermodels? Or more importantly, why does the commercial fashion industry’s interpretation of male Blackness seem to almost always be watered-down, diluted for the masses?
Not since Tyson Beckford has there been an instantly recognizable male model representative of African-American beauty. With a career that has spanned over two decades, Beckford broke barriers as the face for many mainstream ad campaigns including Gucci, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and most notably, Ralph Lauren. In more recent years, he’s crossed over into film and television appearing in music videos, movies, and in television shows as a host and judge. His face let the fashion world know that our features and our skin tone is not only beautiful, but worthy of praise and adoration.
What you see in the form of the Black males in the realm of conventional fashion mediums is the exception: light skin, curly, tame-able hair, and a blithely urban disposition for the sake of inclusivity, lest we feel underrepresented. It’s unfortunate, but the look de rigueur is, and for the most part always has been, something that is nondescript and hard to pinpoint. Only when we see magazines and media geared towards us is when we become most visible. While there have always been a good number of female Black supermodels, as little as they were in comparison to their White counterparts, male Black models who have attained “it” status are hard to come by. It is a known and widespread fact that our people remain somewhat invisible from the fashion world.
Nonetheless, there are a number of fresh faces lending their unique beauty to the pages of upscale, high-fashion magazines and big-name ads. 23-year old Paris-born David Agbodji has become an industry favorite, having signed with Request Model Management in 2008. Since then, the ebony-skinned ingénue has appeared in editorials for GQ, French Vogue, Interview and this year became the face for Calvin Klein. With his flawless, sharp features and boyish appeal, 19-year old Bronx, NY native Corey Baptiste has walked the runways for Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani and Z Zenga, as well as appearing in ads for Benetton and DKNY. Baby-faced Nate Gill became the face of Tommy Hilfiger this year after having walked for Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Givenchy and Etro. Dominique Hollington’s Cuban and African American background accounts for his striking good looks. Working under Red Model Management, Hollington has walked for just about every major designer, including Vivienne Westwood, Duckie Brown and Versace. 25-year old Wendell Lissimore’s body of work includes shows for Hermes and Jean-Paul Gaultier, editorials for V Magazine, British GQ, and Italian Vanity Fair and ads including the 2008 Adidas Spring campaign.
- Princess Glover
Actually, the only male model that I’ve ever been aware of is Tyson Beckford. He’s the only male model I would call a Super Model because his fame transends fashion and the fashionably inclined.
Why aren’t there any Black male supermodels?
-Because men’s fashion is not as important as women’s fashion. People in general are more interested in female models vs male models. And right now currently David Agbodji is pretty much the black male super model. David is also the highest ranking last time I checked. I can’t even name the top white male model, why because I don’t really care lol . The most familiar white male model I can name by heart is Baptiste Giabiconi.
why does the commercial fashion industry’s interpretation of male Blackness seem to almost always be watered-down, diluted for the masses?
- I think this is false black people need to learn that all black people do not look the same I see black male models in catalogs and on the runways who are mixed. Plus we can’t control someone’s lineage.
Also why must everything be in regards to “race” the purpose of a model is to sell clothing not to sell what race they are.
Because their are a lack of black faces. I understand your point, but it should be a healthy number of people from all backgrounds and races modeling. To not notice and talk about topics such as this is a disservice to the black models male and female who are trying to come up.
I meant to write * who aren’t mixed. Plus we can’t control someone’s lineage.
they are all super cuties daaaaamn thanks for sharing hotness on this monday
At the last company I worked for, a designer was going around asking for help on deciding which black male model to use for a fashion shoot. The owner of the company wanted a black male (the suits were supposedly for black men, whatever that means) but he did not want someone dark. The fact that this designer could say this to my face, with a straight face is amazing. Maybe he thought since I was light-skin, it would be okay. But this is how the industry works…they want a black male (or female), but they have to look mixed with something else. As if the ‘Something else’ is taming the savage black other half. I don’t know. But no one will ever replace Tyson Beckford….EVER. He was and still is just that friggin’ hot.
Wasn’t Boris Kodjoe considered a supermodel as well? Definitely Tyson, though I don’t like him (he made my friend cry. Jerk). But that’s neither here nor there.
honestly, I don’t think there will be a male supermodel ever again besides Tyson B. Like Beauty is Diverse mention above, male models are in the background and as Tyra Banks put it affectionately that the males were just the props in the fashion industry for like photo shoots and stuff. Honestly, beside Tyson I can’t remember another top male model name (black or white) because usually the fashion industry is still mostly focus on women, men fashion is still is still kind of second fiddle.
How y’all gonna show dude from Model City TWICE, but leave FINE A** Ibrahim out of the picture??? That’s so wrong, Ib is delicious!!
Was not done on purpose.
Thanks!
successful black people are like Highlanders ‘there an only be one’
You guys showed wendell twice and yet No Ibrahim.
Thanks for letting us know. We can’t edit the graphic at this time though.
C+C
tyson beckford is a jackass and quite rude. i met him in person and i hail him for all he has accomplished but that dude is absolutely not classy. he has the looks but persona stinks…a friend and i was at an event taking photos and asked if his photo could be taken with a fan and he said in a ghetto way “you goin pay me ? you goin pay this?” now was that necessary smh i hope he didnt use that attitude in his profession, and give future black models a bad nasty image and prolly thats why there arent any BLACK male models. thanks tyson and i hope you read this blog
My friend met Tyson at a pizza shop a few years back. She was a HUGE HUGE fan. She was polite and waited til he was done eating. When he went outside, she followed him and said, “Mr. Beckford, I’m a huge fan of yours. May I have your autograph?”
He laughed at her and said, “Yeah, right.” And walked away.
I lost any ounce of respect I had for him.
It’s ‘interesting’ that someone’s boyfriend would ask “Why aren’t there any black supermodels?” ..just sayin’!
Outside of the Dutch Marcus Schenkenberg from back in the day or the French-Canadian Gabriel Aubry (Halle’s ex), there has always been few instantly recognizable white male models. Because of that, I was initially perplexed as to why another thing was being twisted into a racial issue until I read how “light skin, curly, tame-able hair” = “watered-down, diluted” which pretty much told me all I needed to know!
When I was little I thought Tyson Beckford was absolutely gorgeous and I still do. However, none of the models pictured or linked did a thing for me and all of them looked either too little (skinny) for my personal tastes, gay, or unattractive and gay.
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Beauty Is Diverse wrote: “…this is false and black people need to learn that all black people do not look the same. I see black male models in catalogs and on the runways who are not mixed. Plus we can’t control someone’s lineage. …Also why must everything be in regards to “race” the purpose of a model is to sell clothing not to sell what race they are.”
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I wholeheartedly agree with this!!!
*shrug* Ah Well. He’s usually classy and his mouth is shut while he silently obeys my commands in random fantasies. (The same goes for George Clooney, Carey Grant, Daniel Henney, Denzel Washington, Taye Diggs and Beckham.)
Too much info?
Why no Black male super models? Because gays are racist as hell but they try to flip it.
My goodness. Such beautiful guys. I’m not starstruck because I’m sure they are arrogant assholes.
I too wish there were more black male models…