SHANICE MWATHI
“I am a filmmaker and photographer. I’m originally from Nairobi, Kenya, but I grew up and am currently based in Perth, Western Australia.”
Tell us about the idea behind the image you created and the messages you wanted to capture in it.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted but I knew I wanted to rep the culture somehow and go bold, so I gathered all the traditional cloths we have in the house. We call them kangas or lesos, and they're made of bright fabric and usually have a Swahili proverb written on them. I wanted to capture the essence of Vogue, its emphasis on individuality and the strong feminine energy present on every cover. I wanted my cover to be reminiscent of the sparkly softly lit divas of the 70s Soul Train era with a contemporary aesthetic.”
In what ways can the #VogueChallenge push us all to make collective change for a better industry in the long-term?
“The #VogueChallenge is a knee-jerk reflex of the atmosphere we have seen brewing – that of re-examining the structures in society and determining whether or not these structures actually serve all of us. The energy of most people of colour is a deep sense of weariness in a world that does not afford them any rest. All over the world people have used this hashtag to take a stand against the general disregard big brands have for imagery featuring typically under-represented people. Change happens when this social media activitism manifests.”
CARLY FINDLAY
“I am Carly Findlay OAM – writer, speaker, appearance activist, lifetime fan of Darren Hayes, lover of cheese, wearer of rainbows. I write and speak about what it’s like to live with a rare severe skin condition that causes a facial difference, aiming to change people’s perspectives of facial differences and skin conditions.”
Why did you decide to do the #VogueChallenge?
“I had seen other people of colour – including those with ichthyosis (the rare, severe skin condition I have) do the challenge. I put a call out on Twitter for someone to help Photoshop me onto Vogue, and a stranger did! I was thrilled!”
Tell us about the idea and messages behind the final image you posted.
“I woke up and it was in my mentions and I squealed! [Karen] captured me so well [and I like the cover lines]: the two book titles; my mission; and the ‘fucking fabulous’ statement.”
What do you want to communicate about representation in the fashion and beauty industries in this image?
“There is no shame in being disabled, having a skin condition or facial difference. For years I would worry about skin flakes showing on my shoulders, or even not wanting to be in photos due to standing out. This was a result of the shame put upon me by others. I was at [comedian, journalist and activist] Stella Young’s memorial in December 2014 and hugged her sister. I left a big face print on her pink jacket – the print from my ointment. She told me not to apologise, and I remembered how Stella never apologised for taking up space. And so I stopped feeling so self-conscious. I wear what I want now. I see my colour as my accessory. I will not make myself less visible to make others more comfortable. I want all readers of fashion and beauty magazines to be able to see themselves, and not feel the shame that I felt for so long because I wasn’t represented. I want to be that change.”
TONI-LOUISE LORD
“I am Toni-Louise Lord, an Indigenous Australian of Arrentre and Yankunytjatjara decent, born and raised in the heart of Central Australia, Northern Territory, in a town called Alice Springs.”
In what ways can the #VogueChallenge push us all to make collective change?
“The #VogueChallenge begins new momentum when striving for equality inside the beauty and fashion industries. It allows opportunities for us to come together with a vision to see people of colour included through love of their passion and talent, than to be reconsidered for the colour of their skin. For a platform such as Vogue, I believe this momentum is the step in the right direction and is writing a new narrative – ‘we see you, we stand with you, we fight for change together.’”
What does a media landscape that reflects who we all are look like to you?
“The Black Lives Matter movement is instrumental to bringing forth a world where we can be acknowledged for our talents and attributes rather than be seen by the colour of our skin. We are not only recognising people for what they can offer, but we are giving the Black girl the opportunity to see someone who looks like her on the cover or even inside a magazine [or on] social media … We are sharing a message that we are all beautiful, passion goes a long way, and talent will be noticed.“
JAME TELFER
“My name is Jame. I am a Gumbaynggirr nyami (woman) living on Country – Mid North Coast, New South Wales. I run a small business called Earth Blended; the business is a mix of alternative healing and storytelling through essential oil blends and contemporary Aboriginal art. My passion is driven from a place of culture and family, I believe as a First Nations woman it is important to acknowledge the way of life my ancestors loved and lived. My expression and passions to my culture come from connections to our matriarchy. I express my culture, my stories and myself freely through my art and strive for change in the wellness space through my blends.”
Tell us about the idea behind the image you posted and the messages captured in it.
“The original photo was taken during the pregnancy of my third son on Country on the Coffs Harbour coast, by local photographer Ali Jones. I used this image of myself and added my own artwork, which is shown on the breast and belly area. The art represents my journey, my connection to my culture, and the birth of my third child. I chose to use this image as it not only captured myself, a proud buluunygarri
Gumbaynggirr nyami (pregnant Gumbaynggirr woman), but also my cultural connections to motherhood through the story of my birthing experience displayed through my art.”
“The art represents my journey, my connection to my culture, and the birth of my third child”
What do you want to communicate about representation in the fashion and beauty industries in this image?
“I want to communicate the absolute beauty of our culture, our traditions, our art and our people, in particular our matriarchy. Our matriarchal bloodlines run deep and I would love to see the beauty of our First Nations women depicted in the industry by showcasing our Elders, aunts, sisters and emerging young ones.”
LEICOLHN McKELLAR
“I am a Budjiti woman from South West Queensland who has made her home in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.”
Tell us about who is in the image.
“The image is of Year 12 graduate Shakira, taken at her formal in 2019. Shakira moved 500 kilometres away from her West Arnhem home to complete her secondary education, which is no easy feat for a young woman from a remote island community. Shakira is intelligent, strong-willed and a determinant of her own success. First Nations women are so often cast in a binary of victim or perpetrator, but these are the young women that scorn those typecasts and deserve to dominate the narrative.”
In what ways can the #VogueChallenge push us all to make collective change?
“The #VogueChallenge has encouraged dialogue around diversity, the potent impact of representation and the need to afford opportunity to those of colour who have historically been marginalised and silenced. These conversations are fantastic in laying the foundations for change, but it is so important that the exemplars of fashion and beauty, like Vogue, avoid performative activism and genuinely commit to utilising their platforms to diversify the industry. Seek out BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) talent. Establish call-out culture by recognising micro-aggressions then challenging those indignities. Employ people of colour, to employ their vibrancy to globally abolish stagnant beauty ideals. Create space for BIPOC leadership that is void of tokenism.”
RUBII RED
“My name is Rubii Red, I am a proud 22-year-old Lama Lama woman from the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. I am a portrait artist, based in Naarm (Melbourne, Victoria), and have grown up here for the majority of my life.”
What do you want to communicate about representation in the fashion and beauty industries in this image?
“I wanted to communicate with my audience and the viewer that representation is important and I say it all the time: when young people see themselves represented in the media, it empowers them. It makes them proud and makes them feel worthy … I have two sisters and I want them to know their worth, to feel proud of their Aboriginal heritage, to feel beautiful and comfortable in their skin.”
What do you hope those making decisions within the traditional fashion and beauty systems take away from this image, and the #VogueChallenge at large?
“That diversity isn’t a box to tick. That positive representation is empowering, invigorating and beautiful. We need to see more positive representation within the fashion and beauty industries, especially here in Australia. As a First Nations woman, I would love to see more First Nations models, designers, writers, photographers et cetera being acknowledged and recognised within the industry. There is so much talent out there, so many hardworking First Nations people who deserve to be seen and heard. But overall the #VogueChallenge is showcasing Black people, First Nations people, and people of colour who all want to see more of themselves represented in the fashion and beauty industry and other forms of media, positively.”
KYLEE FLEEK
“My name is Kyle De Thier, known as Kylee Fleek, and I am a self-taught Māori make-up artist, aged 17, from Gisborne, New Zealand.”
Why did you decide to do the #VogueChallenge?
“I took this as an opportunity to not only have a bomb Instagram post, but to share an important message that some people don’t hear enough about, especially in the New Zealand LGBTQ+ community.”
What do you want to communicate about representation in the fashion and beauty industries with this image?
“I am an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in my home town. Gisborne is a tiny town with little to no wide acceptance, which is why I want to be the light in this town. I think the fashion and beauty industries always convey perfection and who you have to be to be beautiful, and I want to express that being yourself is the most beautiful you can be. With unrealistic expectations, people are hurt by these industries, especially people of colour and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
What does a media landscape that reflects who we all are look like to you?
“A true representation of us all in mainstream media to me shows diversity, acceptance, positivity and a desire to make change. The Black Lives Matter movement will forever go down in history, and the mainstream media should be advocating for this, not for a moment, but forever onwards.”