Ask The Fashion Professor

Hi Prof. Cady,
Thank you for taking on the some of the tough questions. Here's another one: Do you think there is a bias against Asian models in the reality tv fashion world? Why the absence?
Thanks,
Ellen K.

Hi Ellen,
As someone whose job it is to keep track of runway trends I've always wondered about about the lack of Asian models - there do seem to be very few - so it clearly isn't exclusively a reality TV bias.

I called a friend who is a booker and occasional scout for a large agency in NYC - his experience is that while there are many lovely Asian women - it does seem to be rare to find the height and body type necessary to get the editorial and runway work.
I asked him if he felt there was a bias at work - he didn't think so. But he did say there had never been much demand.

I was in China last Spring - Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou - and was bowled over by the beauty of the women but again none were model height. I'd be curious what Amanda's thoughts are on the subject.

Thanks for the interesting question,
Anthony

Thank you Professor!

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