Thursday, March 17, 2011

Modelling agencies must not tell the truth about ethnicity



In this story from Australia, the stupid young woman should be thanking the agency for levelling with her about her chances of work in the city concerned. But instead she seems to blame them. Talk about shooting the messenger!
"An Indian-Australian model told by a national modelling agency that her work chances were "limited" because she was not Caucasian, is speaking out against the company in a bid to stop the discrimination continuing.

After living and working as a model in the United Kingdom for two years, Kema Rajandran emailed a short biography and photos to Chadwick Models in Perth on Monday, and was "truly disheartened" at the response she received a short time later.

"We think you are very photogenic and would be suitable for our Casting Division," the email from the academy coordinator read. "Please note however that as you are of non-caucasian heritage that your work opportunities in Perth would be extrremely [sic] limited."

Ms Rajandran said given the "extremely multicultural society of Australia", she was shocked at the response, and hoped that by her speaking out about it, the practice of culling models based solely on their appearance would change.

Chadwick's Perth manager Tanya Muia said she was "gob-smacked" that the agency could be labelled as racially discriminating against Ms Rajandran, and that they were simply relaying her chances of finding work in a tight Perth modelling market.

Source

When creatives are looking for an actor to star in a commercial, they initially just leaf through a big book of photos provided by the agency. If they choose to pass over darker ladies, that's just the way the cookie crumbles. A creative decision is entirely subjective and not subject to any rules or regulations.

The agency does however after a while get an idea about which models are likely to be chosen. It's part of their job to notice that. And they were kind enough on this occasion to pass their observations on. For their own sake the agency should perhaps have shut up and let the stupid woman waste her time.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Ms Rajandran ... hoped that by her speaking out about it, the practice of culling models based solely on their appearance would change. "

Truly one of the funniest things you've ever heard from a model. The whole modeling industry is based on "culling models based solely on their appearance".

Use the Name, Luke said...

Anon 12:26,

You need to work on your reading skills. Here's what Jon wrote:

"The agency does however after a while get an idea about which models are likely to be chosen. It's part of their job to notice that. And they were kind enough on this occasion to pass their observations on. For their own sake the agency should perhaps have shut up and let the stupid woman waste her time."

Deliberately wasting time trying to sell something that people aren't buying is stupid.

Anonymous said...

If people actually read the original press that went out she is trying to make a stand against the industry to reflect society in Australia. Shes not calling the agency racist, shes not attempting to be the nest top model, she is fighting for ethnic groups which are a vast majority in Australia. No one has done anything before in the industry about this and I hope the change in the industry happens in the meantime Indians bad comments which is not nice is irrelevant as she is talking about Australia, a country that fiercely promotes and prides itself on being multicultural! And for all the idiots that dont know how to read a news article, she was not quoted on saying shes hoping models will stop being culled based on their appearance thats something the journalist wrote, idiots.

jonjayray said...

Just a point of fact: While Australia is indeed multicultural, over 80% of the population originates from either Europe or the British Isles

Anonymous said...

Caucasian or not, she can be on my dinner menu anytime!!

Anonymous said...

Brown meat? Boooring. I used to live in Miami and if I see another brown haired, brown eyed, brown skin bimbo I'm gonna puke.

http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/

Stan B said...

"Ms Rajandran ... hoped that by her speaking out about it, the practice of culling models based solely on their appearance would change. "

Anon 12:23 has hit the nail on the head. The only reason this woman has had any success as a model is because of the apparently "abhorrent" practice of culling models bases solely on their appearance. That's what models ARE - APPEARANCE!

Anon 3:27 said...

I understand Greg. I feel the same way about "milky-skinned" blonds.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure in India they use white people a lot for commercials and modeling - NOT!

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:56 - The "culling" bit is a quote of the model according to the article. Note how it follows the words "Ms Rajandran said" and neatly terminates that same sentence.

It is you who have failed basic reading comprehension and not the rest of us "idiots".

Anonymous said...

LOL - lost the argument and went straight into the little child mode.

Hint: Adults will own up to their mistakes.