Models of Diversity (MoD)

Fashion 50Plus interviews Ms. Angel Sinclair, co-founder of Models of Diversity.
         

Angel Sinclair

1. Who is Models of Diversity (MoD) and how did it get its start?

Models of Diversity is a London-based non-profit organization which advocates for more diversity in models, and demands that the fashion and marketing industries recognize the beauty in women and men of all races, ages, shapes, sizes, abilities, genders and sexual orientations. Our mission is to change the face of fashion and modelling! We are a campaign founded to stand for equal rights and opportunities within the modelling and fashion industry. I also run Sinclair Model Management, which is very proud to promote natural, healthy models from diverse backgrounds with whom people in the general population can identify.

 I started the Models of Diversity campaign after I appeared on Gok Wan’s ‘Miss Naked Beauty’ in 2008. I was struck by the great variety of beautiful women participating in the event, and how this contrasted with the narrow range we see in the fashion industry. That’s when I decided with my friend and fellow former model Sally Williams to promote models that reflect the wonderful diversity in society. Hence, the seeds for ‘Models of Diversity’ were sown. We hold street surveys, produce catwalk shows and photo shoots, sponsor workshops for people with disabilities and promote our models in the media. Using social networking websites we spread the word to a much wider audience and currently have over 10,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter. And we’re now officially endorsed by the British Fashion Council as well.

2. Your mission states: MoD wants to change the face of fashion and modeling. How are you doing this?

We have a multi-pronged approach which ranges from conducing street surveys and petitions to prove the public wants to see more diversity in fashion, to protesting outside fashion events that use unhealthy models. We do radio interviews and TV spots quite often, and get newspapers and magazines, both print and digital, to run stories about us. In terms of mature men and women, we have two fantastic Ambassadors for Mature Models, Jan and Shirley – they are very busy getting the word out that mature models are just as marketable as other models. Considering the majority of the population will grey or be mature in the next decades, this seems like a no-brainer to us. We always strive to promote tolerance and acceptance.

 

3. What do you hope to accomplish through your mission?

We’d like to see much more diversity in fashion and entertainment – on the catwalks and magazine covers, on TV shows, in adverts… but we’d also like to see diversity behind the camera too, in the stylists, designers, booking agents, and so forth. Our big dream is to expand; we’ve already opened branches in Italy, Australia, Canada and soon the US. Our dream for women over 50 would be to make sure they are fully and equally represented in the fashion industry as the vibrant, sexy women they are!

4. Our audience consists of women who are 40 and above. What advice would you give to a woman who has the beauty and ability to sell a product but is passed the age the industry considers standard?

I would say do not give up! I didn’t start modelling till my early 30s and retired at 47 – it’s never too late. Try lots of places and don’t take No for an answer, keep trying agencies or bookers until someone takes you. It’s ridiculous that models should start to lose work as they age, especially considering that products and clothing aimed for mature women are a multi-billion pound industry! I really dislike seeing young models being used to sell products targeted towards women over age 50.

Jan- Ambassador for mature models

 As far as Europe goes, we think there is a better market for gorgeous, grey-haired mature models in France – we’d like to see the same here in the UK.

5. Is there any other information you would like to share with our audience?

At any fashion show we do always use mature models. My mission is to encourage mature models to continue in the industry, and to encourage designers to make clothing with the needs of the mature consumer in mind. And of course that means designers and agencies need to hire mature models to advertise those clothes! We strongly believe that all people -- no matter their age, size, shape, gender, ability level or ethnicity – have the right the feel beautiful in their own skin.

6. How can women who are interested in learning more MoD contact you?

We welcome them to contact Models of Diversity through our websites and Facebook, Twitter and YouTube communities:

www.modelsofdiversity.org

www.sinclairmanagement.co.uk

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129403085499

twitter.com/ModsOfDiversity

www.youtube.com/Modelsofdiversity

 

People can send an email to me directly at angel@modelsofdiversity.org

Thanks so much for conducting this interview with me!