THE BLACKLIST
Imagine going to work knowing that your job description can be compared with the description of sexual harassment and sometimes-even sexual assault. We operate within a culture that turns a blind eye and is too accepting of abuse in the fashion industry and our silence allows this culture to thrive. We are complicit.
“I told him several times to get off me, but he just kept saying ‘let me have this’.”
In light of movements such as #MeeToo and #TimesUp, the meme Instagram account @shitmodelmgmt, who also claims to be a model herself, decided in January to present the fashion industry with a “Blacklist” of names. Hundreds of agents, photographers and stylists accused of sexual harassment and assault by her followers were named and shamed. The Instagram account encouraged her followers to send her their stories of any photographers that acted sexually inappropriate towards them and aimed to prevent future attacks.
“I cannot keep silent when I know that so many of my model sisters and brothers have been hurt by someone and knowing that I have a way to end it,” the account’s administrator wrote.
Sadly however, after multiple death threats towards the administrator of the account, the blacklist was taken down. This was not in vain as many models like our faceless one had a voice and platform to share their stories.
Describing herself as not a person, but a product in the fashion industry’s eyes, our faceless model was one of the models that sent a message with her story to @Shitmomdelmgmt. For the purpose of this interview we have called our model Rose.
At 18 years old and new to the cut throat industry Rose operated largely on a freelance basis when she arranged her third ever photoshoot . Planned through Instagram, she led to believe her attacker was a professional photographer and a big name in the industry.
“I was told to meet the photographer at his studio, but when I arrived it was his cousin’s pub and there were just the two of us there,” she tells us.
After a bit persuasion, Rose agreed to do the photoshoot topless in an implied nudity way, but the photographer didn’t stop there. “I was really young and stupid and just accepted it because I didn’t know what was normal. I thought that this guy was legit and professional,” she explains.
The situation escalated quickly when the photographer decided to do shots of vodka during the photoshoot and got drunk and aggressive. “He kept saying that this is really chilled I just want you to have fun and relax, so lets drink. It was basically a way for him to get me to take off my clothes.” At this point Rose didn’t want to upset the photographer and decided to drink with him.
Often, a sexual assaulter can be someone popular or famous in the fashion world, making it difficult for a new model entering the industry to speak up without feeling like you are risking your career. Situations like these happen regularly in the industry with powerful people accepting it as the norm. Internationally acclaimed designer Karl Lagerfeld even followed suit stating, “If you don’t want your pants pulled down, don’t become a model!” in a recent interview.
Writing about the experience of compiling the list, Shitmodelmgmt wrote; “No one saw what I saw. No one read what I read. These experiences were heart-breaking. These models were coming to me terrified that their ‘named person’ would find out it was them who reported them.” One of these models being Rose.
“I just remember him taking pictures from above. I was lying down and he was taking pictures on top and all of the sudden I felt his hand in my pants. I literally just froze, I didn’t know what to do or say, but I asked him what he was doing. And he kept replying it’s fine, it’s fine, and I said no it’s not,” she explained.
Keeping silent for months and largely blaming herself whilst being called by her abuser regularly forcing her to keep quiet, our faceless model finally decided to speak out in the hope of helping other models.
Despite being taken down, The Blacklist opened conversations, empowered victims to feel supported but also to prevent their peers from suffering the same brutal fate they endured. If the industry won’t accept there is an issue, then the models themselves must stand united to protect themselves.
“Creeps in the fashion industry: Be afraid. Watch yourself, because the truth will always come out. People aren’t afraid of you anymore. Time is fucking up and it’s time for this bullshit to end. Models: Be brave. Be bold. Fuck the consequences. Name your abuser. Tell your stories. It’s over for these pieces of shit,” – shitmodelmgmt.
#MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse