Models.com and former model/fashion activist Bethann Hardison have teamed up to highlight diversity within model agencies in a series titled “Diversity Rules!”
Bethann shared her inspiration behind the series: “I have addressed the industry by having town hall meetings, gaining international media support, even naming those who lack the sense of responsibility of incorporating models of color. And after being given the CFDA’s Founders Award in June 2014 for upfront confrontation and determination to change how things are done and seen, still we lag at where we should be as an industry.”
![Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-650x433.jpg)
Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
“Where there is clear improvement over the years are the model agencies,” Bethann said. “They have improved their inclusion of the model of color and continue to seek those beauties.”
She continued: “So I decided, instead of looking at what and where it isn’t happening (for now), to show where it continues to grow. There are agencies with far more ethnic models than others, but there are many still open to growth.”
![Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-650x910.jpg)
Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
So far, the series showcases talent from five agencies: Ford Models , New York Model Management , IMG , Wilhelmina , and Next NY .
Lensed by Hans Neumann (Parts 1, 2, and 4), Alex & Iggy (Part 3), and Steven Yatsko (Part 5), the photo shoot features 35 models of color including Kayla Scott , Marihenny Rivera Pasible , Grace Mahary , Jeneil Williams , Scarlet Peña Quezada , Senait Gidey , and Sharam Diniz , who also give short interviews.
Hair is done by Martin Christopher Harper (Parts 1, 2, 4, and 5) and Malcolm Cuthbert (Part 3), with makeup by Cyndle Komarovski (Part 1, 2 and 4), Shar Sinclair (Part 3), and Munemi Imai (Part 5).
![Ely for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-ely-650x867.jpg)
Ely for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Iesha Hodges for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-iesha-hodges-650x867.jpg)
Iesha Hodges for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Kayla Scott for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-kayla-scott-650x867.jpg)
Kayla Scott for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Khadija Otero for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-khadija-otero-650x867.jpg)
Khadija Otero for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Miyanda Jacobs-Newton for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-miyanda-jacobs-newton-650x867.jpg)
Miyanda Jacobs-Newton for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Sarah Marie for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-sarah-marie-650x867.jpg)
Sarah Marie for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Ting Gong for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-ting-gong-650x867.jpg)
Ting Gong for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Tsheca White for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 1: Ford](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-1-ford-tsheca-white-650x867.jpg)
Tsheca White for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 1: Ford
![Ash Foo for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 2: New York Model Management](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-2-nymm-ash-foo-650x867.jpg)
Ash Foo for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 2: New York Model Management
![Chey Carty for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 2: New York Model Management](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-2-nymm-chey-carty-650x867.jpg)
Chey Carty for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 2: New York Model Management
![Chiharu Okunugi for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 2: New York Model Management](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-2-nymm-chiharu-okunugi-650x867.jpg)
Chiharu Okunugi for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 2: New York Model Management
![Leila Nda for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 2: New York Model Management](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-2-nymm-leila-nda-650x867.jpg)
Leila Nda for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 2: New York Model Management
![Marihenny Rivera Pasible for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 2: New York Model Management](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-2-nymm-marihenny-rivera-pasible-650x867.jpg)
Marihenny Rivera Pasible for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 2: New York Model Management
![Riley Montana for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 2: New York Model Management](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-2-nymm-riley-montana-650x867.jpg)
Riley Montana for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 2: New York Model Management
![Chen Lin for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-chen-lin-650x910.jpg)
Chen Lin for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Grace Mahary for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-grace-mahary-650x975.jpg)
Grace Mahary for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Jasmine Tookes for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-jasmine-tookes-650x910.jpg)
Jasmine Tookes for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Jeneil Williams for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-jeneil-williams-650x910.jpg)
Jeneil Williams for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Ping Hue for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-ping-hue-650x910.jpg)
Ping Hue for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Sasha Hronis for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-sasha-hronis-650x910.jpg)
Sasha Hronis for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Scarlet Peña Quezada for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-scarlet-pena-quezada-650x910.jpg)
Scarlet Peña Quezada for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-2-650x433.jpg)
Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Senait Gidey for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-senait-gidey-650x910.jpg)
Senait Gidey for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Yu Du Zeng for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 3: IMG](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-3-img-yu-du-zeng-650x910.jpg)
Yu Du Zeng for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 3: IMG
![Daniela L. for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-daniela-650x867.jpg)
Daniela L. for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Djenice for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-djenice-650x867.jpg)
Djenice for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Emely Montero for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-emely-montero-650x867.jpg)
Emely Montero for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Jasmine Daniels for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-jasmine-daniels-650x867.jpg)
Jasmine Daniels for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Kwak for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-kwak-650x867.jpg)
Kwak for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Lula Kenfe for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-lula-kenfe-650x867.jpg)
Lula Kenfe for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Neelam Gill for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 4: Wilhelmina](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-4-wilhelmina-neelam-650x867.jpg)
Neelam Gill for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 4: Wilhelmina
![Dalianah Arekion for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 5: Next NY](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-5-next-dalianah-arekion-650x847.jpg)
Dalianah Arekion for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 5: Next NY
![Jessie Li for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 5: Next NY](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-5-next-jessie-li-650x872.jpg)
Jessie Li for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 5: Next NY
![Sharam Diniz for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 5: Next NY](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-5-next-sharam-diniz-650x872.jpg)
Sharam Diniz for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 5: Next NY
![Shu Pei for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 5: Next NY](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-5-next-shu-pei-650x872.jpg)
Shu Pei for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 5: Next NY
![Yuan Bo Chao for Models.com "Diversity Rules!" Part 5: Next NY](/sm/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/models.com-diversity-rules-part-5-next-yuan-bo-chao-650x872.jpg)
Yuan Bo Chao for Models.com “Diversity Rules!” Part 5: Next NY
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