30 is the new black

There was uproar when the news broke that black magazine Essence appointed Ellianna Placas, a white fashion editor (incidentally from Australia). But is the problem more than just skin deep?

The brand mission of Essence magazine states that “Essence inspires black women of all shades and shapes to lead bold, fulfilling lives. We encourage their passions and dreams and celebrate their community. As a trusted friend, we reflect their best selves and motivate them to live without limits.”

Given Australia’s poor record to date and lack of visibility of black women in magazines and popular culture, I’ll admit that my first reaction to this wasn’t exactly one of pure elation.

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The wedge can take you from the boardroom to the bar and to the bedroom and back to the boardroom if you’re so inclined. Wedges are a stylish collaboration of form and functionality.

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New York based Australian model Jessica Hart who joins Jennifer Hawkins for the latest Myer campaign busted the myth that models don’t work out and said that there were no short cuts to modelling.

It’s a welcome relief from the lies we have been fed for years by models who say they can eat whatever they want, never exercise and attribute their stick thin body to simply good genes and a fast metabolism.

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Can women and men ever be friends? This is an old-age question and everyone has a different view on it. I agree with Billy Crystal’s character in  the movie “When Harry Met Sally,” who famously said, “Men and women can’t be friends … the sex [or attraction] part always gets in the way.”

Past experience has shown me that a man can only be friends with a woman if there is no physical attraction but the kicker is that a man will usually only seek out a friendship with a woman he is attracted to. I think women are much better at trying to put their feelings aside but when unrequited feelings gets in the way of a blossoming friendship, admittedly it isn’t always the guy who is struggling with those feelings.

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When the saying ‘I am woman, hear me roar’ was coined, I don’t think women being called cougars and depicted as ‘preying’ on younger men was exactly what they had in mind.

A woman dating a man ten or years younger than herself is no difference to a man dating a younger woman but once again, women are reduced to and defined by their sexuality.

But is it really women who are furthering the cougar movement as the media and popular culture would like to suggest or are aggressive young cubs pursuing older women eager for some Mrs Robinson action?

I would like to  put an argument forward that it is the latter rather than the former.

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Indigenous model Samantha Harris has landed the coveted cover of the June 2010 issue of Vogue onsale today. She is only the second Aboriginal model to appear on the cover of the fashion bible, the first being Elaine George in 1993.

It is very rare to see a black model on the Australian cover of a magazine (not including celebrities and singers). Mia Freedman let us in on an industry secret back in 2005 that black models apparently do not sell magazines.

Naomi Campbell is an outspoken advocate of more racial diversity in the fashion industry and constantly speaks out about the lack of representation of black models.

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As some of you know, I have naturally curly hair. Growing up with afro curly hair in the ’80s was not as easy as it sounds.

Blessed with corkscrew curls and an unruly mane that no comb could tame, I tried every hair product on the limited Australian market to control my curls.

As the ’80s perm became passé, I realised that I was one of only a few waving the naturally curly hair flag.

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