US based South Sudanese model Nykhor Paul has taken to social media to rant about unprepared make-up artists at top fashion shows who fail to accommodate for the needs of those with darker skin tones.
In an enraged Instagram post, the 25-year-old activist blasted the fashion industry for considering the needs of ‘white girls’ but ignoring others, forcing her to carry around her own products.
It is not the first time the 5ft 11in African beauty has spoken out about the inequality she has faced, having previously said that we ‘need more models of color in the fashion world’.
Campaigner Nykhor, who has modelled for the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Rick Owens and Louis Vuitton, addressed her open letter, ‘Dear white people in the fashion world!’ and posted it alongside a black and white image of herself in a grey vest top.
She then went on a tirade about lazy beauty artists, telling them to ‘get your s*** right’ when it comes to non-caucasian complexions.
In her powerful message, which has so far attracted more than 3,300 likes, Nykhor goes on to list an array of brands which cater for darker skin tones, including Mac, Bobbi Brown and Lancome.
The New York-based stunner is clearly angry as she goes on to say that ‘good makeup artists would come’ prepared and do their ‘research’ before attending a show.
She said the problem occurs at each of the world’s major fashion weeks, name-checking New York, London, Milan, Paris and Cape Town.
Clearly exasperated with the treatment she has faced, Nykhor added that she’s ‘tired of complaining’ and ‘super tired’ of apologising for her blackness.
She finishes off the provocative statement by saying, ‘fashion is art, art is never racist’ and then poses the question, ‘Why can’t we be part of fashion fully and equally?’.
Fans rushed to applaud Nykhor for her outburst, writing underneath the Instagram message: ‘That’s GROSS that you have to bring your own make up, go off mama!!!’ and ‘THISSSS IS THE BEST THING IVE READ IN A LONG TIME’.
While another supporter added, ‘Long overdue! Couldn’t agree more or have said it better, this should not be a 2015 struggle for people who deem themselves professionals! Immaculately said.’
Nykhor emigrated to the America in 1998, with help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the agency that helps procure safety for refugees and victims of war-torn countries.
She set up life in Houston, Texas, but sadly she had to leave her mother and father behind.
After batting away suggestions that she should take up modeling, Nykhor’s striking looks caught the eye of a scout from the famed Ford Models agency in Chicago when she was still at school.
In 2008, she moved to New York and signed to RED Model Management, and the runways of Vivienne Westwood, Balenciaga and Rick Owens soon came calling, as well as campaigns for the likes of Louis Vuitton.
Nykhor set up a foundation, We Are Nilotic, to promote peace and unity among the 64 tribes of South Sudan.