DISGRASIAN™

DISGRASIAN OF THE WEAK! British Vogue Isn’t Racist, It Just Thinks We All Look Alike

In December, American Vogue decreed that Asian models are all the rage. Six months later, British Vogue is saying the same thing in its June 2011 issue with Alexa Chung on the cover. (See what they did there? Asians, Asians, everywhere!) This is great and all–that Asians have become the new It Bag–but in hailing the so-called “rise of the Asian model,” British Vogue incorrectly identified Liu Wen, first Asian model to walk in a Victoria’s Secret show and be a face for Estee Lauder, as her Chinese compatriot Du Juan, first Asian model to appear on the cover of French Vogue.

Jezebel pointed out that this case of Mistasian Identity was uncovered the same day that Continue reading DISGRASIAN OF THE WEAK! British Vogue Isn’t Racist, It Just Thinks We All Look Alike

Filed under: Alexandra Shulman, American Vogue, Anna Wintour, Asian Models, Asian Models On the Rise, Asian supermodels, British Vogue, British Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman, Chinese Models, Du Juan, En Vogue, Fact Checkers, Fact Checking, Fashion Trends, Fashism, Laziness, Liu Wen, Mistasian Identity, People as Accessories, People As Trends, Race and Ethnicity as a Trend, Racism and the Fashion Industry, Trends, Vogue Magazine

Vogue Magazine: Asian Women Are Beautiful (Finally)!

The December issue of American Vogue has a fashion story on a “new crop” of Asian models–never mind that most of them have been around for several years–who are, quoth the lady mag, “redefining traditional concepts of beauty.”

Which raises the question, “traditional concepts of beauty” where, exactly? Because there are plenty of places in the world where, traditionally speaking, Asian women have long been considered beautiful. Like in, um, Asia, for example? Even in Western countries, Asian beauty, for lack of a more specific term, isn’t a new concept (although, granted, sometimes, it’s a creepy, fetishy one.)

And since that covers 3/4 of the world’s population, what’s left?

Vogue magazine, that’s what.

Let’s think about this for a second: American Vogue has never featured an Asian model on its cover in its 40-plus years of featuring models on its cover (unless you count Blasian Naomi Campbell). American Vogue also has a dismal track record when it comes to featuring non-white models in general. So, by featuring a “new” crop of Asian models in its pages, American Vogue is “redefining traditional concepts of beauty” held by…American Vogue.

That’s enough self-referentiality to make an Asian chick’s fauxhawk spin right off of her suddenly-pretty head.

[via Daily Intel]

Thanks, Jasmine!

Filed under: Absurd Declarations, American Vogue, Anna Wintour, Asian Models, Beautiful Ladies, Dumb Shit, Fashion Trends, Fashism, If Vogue Says It It Must Be True, Racist Notions of Beauty, Unfashionably Late, Vogue, Vogue Has a Beauty Issue, Vogue Magazine Says Asian Models Redefining Traditional Concepts of Beauty, Vogue U.S.