Who would have thought that you could look at a magazine cover that clearly says “Black Hair” and see a white British model with a fro?
Well in this day and age you can! Model Emily Bador a model from the U.K., a white woman blew the whistle on herself and the magazine “Black Hair” when she took to Instagram to offer a sincere apology for her unknown involvement in what we could call appropriation. Her image was used on the cover of Black Hair magazine without her permission.
Read her apology below:
I would deeply and sincerely like to apologise to every one for this, and black women especially. I would like to clarify, I believe this shoot is from when I was around 15 and didn’t understand cultural appropriation or the impact it has on POC. I was uneducated, which obviously is no excuse, ignorant and immature.
Growing up in a very very white city, I had no idea the struggles black women face and how often they were persecuted for their hair. I didn’t understand how black women are constantly told their natural hair is inappropriate/unprofessional for the work place, or how young girls are told they can’t go to school with natural hair.
I didn’t understand that shoots like this support the very Eurocentric beauty standard that the mainstream media focus on which reinforce the idea that black features are only ok on white women. I didn’t understand that as a white passing woman I’d be praised for this hair, but if I was a black woman I’d be persecuted. I didn’t understand cultural appropriation.
I do regret doing this. I hold up my hands, I’m so so so sorry and I’m very sorry this cover was taken away from a black woman. This image is (I think, although I’m not 100% sure) about 3/4 years old, it was never intended to be on the cover of this magazine. If I had known it was going to be published, I would never have condoned it. I’m upset and angry I was never asked by the photographer/hair salon/anyone if this image could be used for the cover Black Hair.
I’m so glad I’ve educated myself and surrounded my self with people to teach me what is right and wrong. I constantly am learning and becoming more and more informed. It’s important to come forward and be honest with ourselves about our past mistakes, otherwise we will never learn.
Again, I’m truly, deeply sorry to anyone I’ve offended and I hope if nothing else this post can educated others so they don’t make similar mistakes. (also please let me know if I’ve said anything wrong or offensive in this post!!! or anything i can add!!!! i love u all sm and the last thing i want to do is offend or hurt any one, i really hope you don’t all think im a massive twat ????)
Her community and everyone who read this apology thought it was a breath of fresh air, a truth moment if you will because finally someone gets it! On the other side of the coin Black Hair claimed ignorance on the whole thing, saying they did not know Emily was white.
Here is the statement they made on the issue:
“We often ask PR companies/salons to submit images for the magazine, specifically stating that models must be black or mixed race. We can only take their word for it, and of course, try to use our own judgment.”
Hard to believe that they would not have an image of a black woman with an afro submitted…. but ok! What do you all think about this whole thing? Comment below!
Denice Badu says
Well, if this is true, I blame the magazine layout team and the editors for approving a white woman to be ANYWHERE on a “Black Hair” magazine. Perhaps neither the editors or owner of the magazine is black.
Pam Cooper says
If they did something like this, I doubt they are black.
Nea Mack says
She shouldn’t have to apologize. The magazines team needs to.
Malika John says
Wow.
Shavonne Nicole Lang says
????
Laura Marie says
Why is she apologizing? She didn’t choose who should be in the cover
Cheron Wallace-March says
She’s a model. They do all types of different looks- I’m really not understanding….
Marissa Randolph says
She is not black. It’s insulting to black women who have these features naturally that they looked over to place this white woman on the cover instead. This is someone that had to wear a wig and have her skin “bronzed” to fit what this magazine is trying to say is natural beauty. Why she is apologizing, I have no idea. It’s the magazine’s burden to do so
Cheron Wallace-March says
She ain’t trying to pass as a black person,in real life. This is the field of fashion,people. Many different styles,cultures,and images are depicted by everyone in the modeling world. What about black women who wear blonde wigs and contacts in fashion shoots? It’s all relative and art. Everything isn’t controversial folks. Good grief.
Marissa Randolph says
Cheron Wallace-March there are black ppl that have naturally blonde hair. Those black women that wear blonde wigs are not on the cover of a magazine meant to empower an oppressed ppl who were told for centuries to hate themselves. To put a wig on a person instead of getting someone that has the natural features you are looking for, once again tells those ppl that they didn’t make the cut for the standard of beauty. Nothing art about it. It’s an insult
Bk Newton says
It’s not insulting to me
Cheron Wallace-March says
Blonde wig with contacts was ONE example out of many!!!!! Photo shoots in Tokyo,when everyone dresses like Geishas,in India when everyone is dressed like an Indian with a dot in the middle of their heads,Austrailian shoots,Italian,French,you name it!!!! All types of African shoots in many of the countries,depicting their beautiful arrays of styles- EVERYONE dresses and styles themselves like EVERYONE!!!!! Just look up high fashion. It’s actually complimentary to whatever country your nationality originates from when it’s displayed by all types of nationalities,in high fashion- duhhhh! Don’t we WANT to be recognized as beautiful?????? Don’t we WANT the props for our our features and styles???????? I believe there’s no better way than other cultures exemplifying those attributes,publicly,tastefuly,and beautifully! Come on folks. Stop this mess. Always looking for something to argue about,rally for,be mad about!!!!!! This ain’t one,folks! Better protests worthy of time and efforts,better causes, more things that deserve to be defended and deserve our frustration and anger. This is,once again,NICE ART.
People been mad so long,dont know how to be happy and accept a compliment.
Pam Cooper says
My question is did she know she was going to be on the cover of a black hair care magazine? Because I don’t think models have much say in that stuff.
Alisha Lieberman says
No she didn’t know based on what she said in the article
Cherri Black says
i think its funny how most white people always actin like they don’t want nothing to do with us but always trying to be apart of anything we got going on
Tam Spiridonov says
How is your comment relevant to this story?
Cherri Black says
she’s a white model on the cover of a black hair magazine…..
Aiesha Johnson-Battice says
Well if you actually read the article and not jumped to conclusion, she didn’t know until after the pics had been taken.
Tash Van Will says
Ok @Aiesha Johnson how do you know she was talking about the model? Jumping to conclusions?!
Aiesha Johnson-Battice says
Well what else would she be talking about. Or was it just some random thought that popped into her head, and she just had to comment on it at this precise moment. Please! Next!
Cherri Black says
for your information Aiesha Johnson-Battice I did read it and the people who put her face in the magazine was who I was referring to in my original post. pot calling the kettle black much ????
Serina Senior says
Y’all crack me da f**k up ????????????
Tam Spiridonov says
I believe that the editor of this magazine is a black woman and she issued an apology and explanation for how this happened. I don’t think your comment is relevant to this particular situation, but whatever.
Cherri Black says
right…
Tarsha Cunningham says
I want to know how I can get my hair like that . Is that in the magazine
Tracy Jackson-carrazana says
She shouldn’t have to apologize
Not her mistake , if it is a mistake she looks great!!
Denise Lee says
Looks to me like the editor and owners wanted to be funny by putting a white woman on there with a messed up wig… it not her fault it theirs
Conisha Williams says
I’m a little confused… Isn’t Black hair partially responsible? They would have been the ones ASKING her to appear on the magazine. I mean granted she accepted but it’s not fully her fault.
Joany Hughes says
According to the magazine, they don’t choose the models but an agency does. They take who they send because the agency knows the criteria. But the magazine can’t say that they didn’t see she wasn’t black. But any excuse is better than none
Conisha Williams says
Smh wow
Kisha Jones says
read the article!!! the pic is a stock photo from a yrs ago!
Pamela Wilder says
She Look “Lite Skin Black” to Me, I actually have Lighter black People in My Family than Her!!
She Apologized bc She Dont want to be Deceitful like that Other Lady!!
It’s All GOOD, like JESUS Said if You For us, it’s HARD to be Against us. 😉
Pamela Wilder says
Oh Yeah the Magazine Say BLACK HAIR, Not Black Face!! Lol and thats Some BUSHY HAIR!
Bk Newton says
For real. She probably thought she could get some tips!!!
Felicia Thomas says
She doesn’t have to apologize.
Jurdene Coleman says
She don’t need to apologize, she didn’t hire herself! Dummies
Tracee Fitzpatrick says
Why should she apologize ? Doesn’t matter what race she is or what she is portraying, it is art.
Ireti Solanke says
Why does anyone have to apologize?
Whookiebaby Jordan says
Wtf!!
Stephanie Collins says
Wow!!! Awareness, no need to apologize, not your fault but your insight is refreshing !!
Erika Joiner says
I’m confused that’s what models do they model. She looked cute
Sandra Kimbrough says
Damn now they trying to act like they black… for ever stealing from us…Oh they stole America too…
Laura Marie says
The magazine picked the photo so how is someone stealing from us?
whh652d says
I find this whole thing oddbecause:
-how can we 2016 have a magazine which only allowes certain colours on the front page?
– why are not people allowed to have what ever hairstyle you want? How can someone’s natural hair type ever be something they need to alpologuze for? Regardless of etnic background?
– if she is a model she does a shooting and is paid for that. The photographer owns the picture and sell it. She has not much say in that unless it is a shoot for a certain company. Is it in a picture bank it can end up anywhere. People need to address the magazine if they are not happy with what they publish or stop buying the magazine.
We are all humans and we all has the right to look the way we want. If a young beautiful girl has to go out and apologise for the way she wears her hair something is wrong.
Jaymie Ericka says
She shouldnt apologize for anything tuh ✋
Bk Newton says
Her hair has texture like some black women why does any of this matter?
Chanel Bridges says
She apologized to bring it to the light