Instagram’s #RunwayForAll Targets Fashion’s Lack of Diversity

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Social media giants Instagram are using their pivotal position in today’s fashion landscape to tackle the problem of diversity – or lack thereof – in the industry.

Through the #RunwayForAll tag, Instagram aims to amplify the stories of the underrepresented, champion the professionals who are reshaping industry standards as well as encourage others to post their own experiences.

Instagram will be sharing one unique story every day with their 162+ million followers. Mama Cax launched the campaign earlier this week – a woman who’s never previously considered modeling as a career because, as a black female amputee, she’d not exactly seen many people like herself on the front cover of magazines.

“#RunwayForAll means any teenager feels represented when they open a magazine or watch a fashion show,” says Mama Cax (@caxmee). Mama grew up in Haiti, lives in New York City and never aspired to be a model — “not only because there were very few dark models on magazine covers but also because I grew up with very little knowledge of the fashion industry,” she says. “Eight years ago, after getting my leg amputated, the idea of being a model was even more far-fetched.” Today, Mama is modeling and doing other things that she was told there was no audience for, like sharing tips for traveling as a black female amputee. “The majority of humans do not look like the mainstream idea of beauty,” she says. “One of the greatest barriers is not belonging. Through modeling I hope to show that beauty does not always wear a size zero and beauty does not always walk on two limbs.” Every day this week, we’ll be sharing the story of a model who is redefining industry standards and making sure there’s room on the #RunwayForAll. Photo of @caxmee by @simonhuemaen

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on May 30, 2016 at 8:00am PDT

Day two saw Shaun Ross discuss what he thinks a hashtag like this represents within the industry: “#RunwayForAll is a world where everyone is treated the same.” Ross refused to hide his homosexuality despite pressure from agents to do so.

The ironic thing is that #RunwayForAll and Ross’ story coincides with Instagram and GLAAD’s #PridePortraits campaign, relaunched for the third year in a row to coincide with global Pride Month (that being June). #PridePortraits seeks to share more stories of diversity, specific to the global LGBT community, asking people to share what makes them proud.

Follow Instagram on Instagram so you don’t miss the rest of the weeks stories.

For more social activism check out this giant “inflatable refugee” sculpture that’s shedding light on the European migrant crisis.

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