Our Previous Campaigns and Awareness Events
MODELS OF DIVERSITY AND UNHIDDEN PRESENTS 'FRONT ROW'
Models of diversity has spent the last 15 years campaigning for more diversity in the fashion, beauty and media industry. Together with Unhidden, a global fashion brand specialising in adaptive design for disabled people, we held an incredable panel discussion ‘Front Row’, an industry led discussion on the future of diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry at this year’s London Fashion Week.
The panel will focussed on the current state of inclusion in the fashion industry, why it is the fashion industry’s responsibility to increase inclusion and diversity to better reflect society and what changes brands can make to have a positive impact. The immersive event also included pop up shops with exclusive items from Unhidden and an exhibition of 15 years of MODs work as well as giving attendees the opportunity to network and meet influential industry insiders.
Meet the panel
• Angel Sinclair, founder and CEO of Models of Diversity the registered charity dedicated to campaigning for more diversity in the fashion, beauty and media industry.
• Victoria Jenkins, founder of Unhidden and inclusive design activist. Victoria is featured on British Vogues’ Vogue 25 list and is the 2nd most influential disabled person in the UK as part of the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list.
• Tasha Ghouri is a television personality, activist, model and social media influencer. She is the first ever pre-loved brand ambassador for eBay and is also brand ambassador for Ann Summer and Loreal Paris.
• Felicity Hayward, is a Model, author, content creator and activist, she broke barriers as the UK’s first plus-size model, defying the fashion industry’s norms that often-overlooked curves.
• Chelsea Williams, Co-founder of We Are We Wear; an independent, black-owned business, created in 2019. SS22 saw the launch of their very first menswear collection as they continue to expand their design visions into new product categories.
• Rebecca Cole is a professional pattern cutter, dressmaker and author with over 30 years sewing experience. Her journey has culminated in the publication of her first book All Access Sewing, released in November 2023.
• Phil Curtis is the founder of Happy, Beautiful, Health. After a personal trauma, Phil developed a passion for nutrition and a desire to understand how it impacts our health.
• Moeed Majeed TV & Radio presenter, podcast producer. Crohns patient who has worked with the BBC, Spotify and the London Borough of culture sharing his story and experience.
Victoria says ‘It is an honour to be an ambassador for Models of Diversity and to be able to work together to keep the momentum on inclusion in the fashion industry going; there is still a long way to go and conversations like these have huge ripple effects for both consumers and decision makers.’
15 Years of MOD - An Exhibition
15 The Exhibition was a glorious celebration of the work, photographers, models, brands and individuals who have supported Models of Diversity in campaigning for more representation and inclusion in the modelling, beauty and media industry over the last 15 years.
On the night we also launched our 2024 Calendar 15 to help us reach our fundraising goals
Fashion Revolution LFW 2023
On 12th June, with the support of the British Fashion Council, Models of Diversity held a BFC Scheduled, positive, revolutionary catwalk show at Freemasons Hall in London. Following over a decades work, we are hugely frustrated that Fashion weeks around the world still do not represent our society, its not only disheartening to see a return to a very singular body type on the catwalk, virtually no models with visible disabilities and only a tiny percentage of black models, it is also proven to be damaging for our mental health.
Ageism in the Industry
This campaign by MOD and Linda Blacker celebrates women over 40, and pushes for more representation in the fashion and media industry!
Rather than celebrating ageing and the beauty in it, women are bombarded with anti-aging propaganda again and again, as the industry profits off of their insecurities, whilst simultaneously making them feel invisible.
We want to see the industry include more women over 40 in their beauty & fashion campaigns in a positive way, but we need your help! Like, comment, share with your friends, let’s get everybody talking and brands taking notice.
Created for @modelsofdiversity Photography & Creative Direction by – @Lindablacker Styling @styledinfrench & @Lindablacker Makeup Artist – @eringrace.makeup Makeup Artist – @lucyjmakeup Hair Stylist – @flaming_bride Runner / Shoot Assistant – @aevaandersson Florist – @pulbrookandgould -Charlie Hayward & Rodica Diaconu Stunning venue – @1011cht #ageismintheindustry
Missguided and MOD “However You Nude” Competition
Global fashion brand MISSGUIDED partnered with charity, Models of Diversity,
to launch a competition to find models for their empowering campaign However You Nude.
MISSGUIDED chose 7 out of the 2,500 applicants to model in the shoot alongside other inspirational people.
The “However You Nude” campaign, featured diverse and empowering models to promote Missguided’s inclusive shapewear collection. The powerful collection pushes boundaries to rethink the ‘norm’, through captivating imagery and video, it introduces a collection that honours every shade and shape. The fashion brand is on a mission to empower all, this collaboration aims to promote equality through the next generation of content creators and models.
They aim to redefine what the word nude stands for. So, say bye to beige – whatever your shade, Missguided have got you covered. The collection is not only available in a variety of skin tones and body shapes but also celebrates models with a disability, with a story as a transgender woman and with a story as a non-binary person. The campaign features models such as trans advocate Dani St James who co-founded “Not A Phase”, a charity which supports trans youth and Joy Cooper who is an advocate for people with Ileostomy bags.
Angel, Founder of Models of Diversity explained:
“Many brands talk about change, few follow through! Misguided absolutely blew us away with their commitment to inclusion and diversity in this campaign. We were delighted that amongst their gorgeous and diverse cast they included 7 very beautiful but very different models through MOD – the results are amazing. It is a pleasure to be associated with a brand so determined to be on the right side of change”
Missguided Founder and CEO Nitin Passi stated:
“Empowerment is at the heart of what we stand for and while we’re proud of that, it has to be for everyone. This campaign powerfully says who we are and also shows what we aspire to be, not only opening a window into the breadth of what we offer but also now better covering the skin tones that match the diversity of our customers.”
Brides Of Diversity
Dr Amanda Bates, talks to the BBC about taking part in our shoot with The Bridal Boutique.
Amanda campaigns for positive representation of people with disabilities and recently appeared in a bridal shoot with Models of Diversity and The Boutique Bridal Shop.
https://www.facebook.com/theboutiqueuk
https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/abou…
Proud Nation
Proud Nation , was a project we took part in with Rankin and Sronewall back in 2021. Led by the LGBTQ+ community it challenged the stereotypes and lack of diversity in advertising through a representative photographic series.
Featuring a cast from across the queer alphabet, we aimed to showcase the breadth and intersectionality of the queer landscape in Britain today, so that we may fight for more diversity and inclusion in the future.
The project was specifically released on 28th June to coincide with the Stonewall Uprising – one of the leading events that pushed the way forward for the Gay Liberation Movement.
Read more in depth information about it at the project website www.proudnation.co.uk
Breaking Ground - Curves in Couture
Curves in Couture 2011 featured healthy, curvy models. First came The Diversity Show, featuring healthy professional models of different sizes, shapes, heights and ability levels of all colours and races sporting the latest in ready-to-wear fashion. Model Kelly Knox, winner of the BBC’s Britain’s Missing Top Model took to the runway and looked glorious.
The Diversity Show was swiftly followed by the Curves in Couture Show, with top international curvy plus models such as Robyn Lawley, fresh off the cover of Vogue Italia, in sizes 14-18. The models wore couture, from both up & coming designers like Danielle Liane and Miss Lacy, and established design houses such as Anna Scholz and Jill Alexander, who flew over from California to premiere her fabulous Spring 2012 collection at the show.
In The Beginning
Images from our first ever protest outside London Fashion Week over 15 years ago!
Led by Founder and CEO Angel Sinclair MOD supporters gathered to disrupt London Fashion Week and to encourage diversity on the runway, discouraging the use of overtly underweight models who were suffering to be thin enough for fashion.
It was an eventful campaign and it was Angel’s determination and tenacity that eventually lead to these petitions reaching the British Fashion Council who agreed to meet and discuss the issues and lack of model diversity with her.
