FOMO Director Robert Wilson speaks out on lack of diversity

Robert Wilson, director of FOMO Models, says the modelling industry is still racist in many aspects - from big brands to designers and photographers.

He believes that the industry is not sincere when they scout models of ethnic minorities and worries that the recent "surge in diversity casting" will not be a permanent change.

He says London High Street and fast fashion brands are the exceptions when it comes to inclusivity in the modelling industry.

And despite BAME models being represented across the UK, they are still presented with discrimination and microaggressions once they arrive on set, he said.

Robert Wilson - Dawn Collins Photography

The director from Wimbledon said: "One of the black models arrived on set and was told by the hairstylist on seeing her afro: 'oh what am I supposed to do with this, it wasn’t what I was expecting.

"There is a real lack of experience in black beauty stylists on fashion shoots.

Some casting directors and photographers won't book a black model because of their hair or their make up.

"I've been on a set where they say, oh just fluff her hair up. You can't do that."

Robert Wilson said he is "ashamed and disgusted" when models are treated differently due to their background.

Dawn Collins Photography

He went on to say that many models fear to speak out in case they are fired from their role.

Speaking about another incident, he said that he was left shocked when he received a brief which asked for a black model but not "too black" and when his model was turned down due to "Indian not being in demand".

"I was once at a casting where a casting director told me not to let any 'yellow skin' people through the door.

"Also, a model agency in Milan refused to sign the biggest Indian model in the UK because they said they had no clients who would want to book him.

"In solidarity we pulled all our other models from the agency that refused to sign the Indian model."

Dawn Collins Photography

Rob went on to say that certain UK brands and other countries have treated the Black Lives Matter movement and diversity as a whole as a trend.

"In the aftermath of the BLM movement there was a surge in diversity casting, but it was just a token gesture and nothing has really changed when it comes to the high-end brands in Milan and Paris they are still using mainly white models."

"People are trying to move with the movement but BAME models can see through that and there is no consistency.

"You've chatted about it on social media, you shared a few posts, but what actually are you doing?

"Have you got a representative at your agency to support the BAME community with problems, with racial discrimination in jobs?

"There should be race committees like there is in any big organisation- where the BAME community can take their concerns and feel they can report any racist discrimination without fear of it affecting them working in the future."

He added: "Since the start, we have been at the forefront of diversity.

"A true agent is talented and good at what they do - they just see the beauty in someone - no matter what race, what colour, or where they are from.

You don't fit the brand around a skin tone, its backwards.

"It makes me so angry that it is still going on," he said.

"Other agencies need a lot of work and need to move with the time - we are dealing with ignorant people."