After MAC Cosmetics posted a close up profile picture of model Aamito Lagum’s purple painted lips on Instagram, there was an immediate racist backlash. The comment section was filled with derogatory remarks statements about the size and shape of her lips.
“It was so shocking that on a visible site like MAC’s Instagram, people were spewing that level of hate. I think this only affirms the idea that fashion and beauty companies need to stand for a wider and more diverse show of beauty,” Lagum told The New York Times.
MAC’s response was immediate. They contacted Instagram and flagged the comments in order to get them removed. They followed up the next day with an Instagram post of the saying “All ages, all races, all sexes.”
Lagum’s makeup was from the Ohne Titel show and the designers behind the show also showed her their support. Alexa Adams and Flora Gil posted a backstage image of the model that garnered more likes than anything else they’ve posted thus far.
Lagum also took to Instagram to respond to the haters with a repost of the original photo and caption “My lips giving you sleepless nights”. She also started the hashtag #PrettyLipsPeriod on a digital reimaging of her purple pout encouraging women to post their own lips. There are now almost 3,000 posts under the hashtag.
This is only another example of how imperative it is to have diversity in the fashion industry. Photos like this should not generate this negative dialogue, but the industry’s support for Lagum is heartening. More and more designers are fighting for diversity including Zac Posen who’s latest runway was almost exclusively models of color. Hopefully this trend will continue!
What do you think of the #BlackModelsMatter movement?
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