Kendall Jenner Receives Instagram Backlash for Wearing an Afro in a Photo Shoot
The Kardashian/Jenner family have found themselves at the center of cultural appropriation controversies more than a few times, and the latest instance involves Kendall Jenner's hairstyling for a recent photo shoot.
The photos in question are part of a series that ran in the Vogue November issue and online to honor the 15th anniversary of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Two pictures from the series were recently posted to the brand's Instagram and feature Kendall Jenner wearing an afro. Many unhappy followers have voiced their concern in the comments.
A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on Oct 19, 2018 at 1:29pm PDT
"Why did you use a white celebrity for this shoot instead of a person of color who rocks this hair naturally," one Instagram user wrote.
"African Americans were forced to straighten their f$$$ing hair in America in order to get jobs," one follower wrote in the comments. "If you wore your hair natural it had to be cut short. Hell, the military only allowed dreads two years ago. So GTFOH with 'Blacks straighten their hair'. If we werenât forced to, I can only hope we wouldnât! Itâs appropriation! Period!"
"Now that Black Women are getting praised for their natural locks and seen a beautiful, white women are trying to high jack as usual," wrote another.
A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on Oct 17, 2018 at 2:36pm PDT
In addition to being rightfully upset, followers are also confused as hell as to why the stylists decided to switch the hair textures of Kendall and the other model from the shoot. Imaan Hammam, a Dutch model of Moroccan and Egyptian descent, has a naturally curly texture but is shown in the photos with her hair straightened.
"The creative director can do as they please, but why not just leave Imaan hair out natural instead of straightening it?, so then there's no need to give Kendall the Afro?" one commenter wrote.
"But why didn't you just use an ethnic model with that hair naturally," wrote another.
"vogue: okay we want to do a shoot with a model who has an afro and freckles
vogue staff: letâs book kendall again sheâs the perfect fit if we just tease her hair and draw on some freckles
the rest of vogue: wow!!!! your mind!!!! letâs do it!!!!!" wrote another.
According to Fashionista, Vogue has since made a statement about the photo series, which reads as follows:
"The image is meant to be an update of the romantic Edwardian/Gibson Girl hair which suits the period feel of the Brock Collection, and also the big hair of the 60s and the early 70s, that puffed-out, teased-out look of those eras. We apologize if it came across differently than intended, and did not mean to offend anyone by it."
Kendall Jenner has not yet responded to the controversy.
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