I n 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 .
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 ,
THE BLACKLIST
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“ I told him several times to get off me , but he just kept saying ‘ let me have this ’
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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 .
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 .
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 .
BYBLE1 . indd 19 02 / 05 / 2018 16:59