French Vogue Photographs Model Lara Stone in Blackface

by Lesley Kennedy (Subscribe to Lesley Kennedy's posts)
Posted Oct 13th 2009 at 3:55PM

Dutch model Lara Stone shown in blackface for the October issue of French Vogue.

Controversial photo shoots have served fashion magazines well over the years, but a 14-page spread featuring a model in blackface? Really?

French Vogue did just that in its October issue, on newsstands now.

The issue, which features Kate Moss on the cover and supermodels including Claudia Schiffer, Kristen McMenamy and Eva Herzigova inside, also shows Dutch model Lara Stone, 25, painted head-to-toe in dark brown makeup.

Lara Stone's controversial photo shoot in this month's French Vogue.

Excuse our French translation here, but the images, shot by Steven Klein and styled by French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, according to the text blurb, are supposed to celebrate the fact that Stone has funny teeth and isn't part of the wave of anorexic models (she's a whopping size 4!).

Huh? And the blackface figures into that how?

What do you think of this photo shoot? Do you find it offensive? Leave a comment below!

Read All Comments

Filed under: News
Tags: black-face, blackface, carine-roitfield, french vogue, FrenchVogue, lara-stone, model, Paris vogue, ParisVogue, steven-klein, vogue

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READER COMMENTS

(69)Add A Comment

davidriversjr, 2-17-2010, 10:41AM

I find it racist and offensive. I cannot believe Lara Stone a DUTCH supermodels agent felt necessary to send this model for this booking? (they know damn well this would cause an uproar. I dont give a damn who is shooting. The fact that a jewish-american photographer who controls so much of the fashion industry and a jewish french editor in chief of VOGUE thought this was a genius idea is beyond the pale. The french people are known for their ideas of African people as minstrels and clowns. They continue to do so each time they enact an editorial of black people/women. They make them crawl and growl like an animal. Look at the all black girl issue of italian Vogue. Steven Klein just shot Rhianna editorial? Was she not crawling with boobs displayed and appearing as a freak? Lebron James at US VOGUE growling with Ms Lebowitz. What is the problem??? is their a problem?... Oh yeah in case your wondering This is not FUNNY! I am so sick of white folk explaining their asses with artistic expression. Can you imagine a german model wearing a nazi uniform as fashion in Vogue? They would flip the**** out@! So I would suggest Mr. Klein/Mrs Roitfield two culturally jewish folks learn some history. What surprises everyone that this is coming people of their culture. By the way making racist jokes and blackface is not funny. This by gone era is supposed to be left in the past. Lets figure how we as people of color can boycott magazines who hire him and mainstream advertisers who support Ms. Roitfeld and Mr Klein. Since they feel so enlighten to make NEGROS feel like shukin and JIVIN! Dont buy this propaganda anymore. I am so sick and tired of these fashionistas masking their inner fear as art.
I will keep everyone posted as to what advertisers are supporting Mr. Kleins career. I know Dolce& Gabanna is first. These people only understand MONEY!

Reply »

darcy, 10-16-2009, 9:34AM

hello. i actually find your post rather offensive. the way that you group all french people and all white people into one like minded group is the worst example of inverted racism. i fail to see what someones religion or nationality has to do with their actions - private individuals are not spokespeople for their religion or race. its ok for you to object or be offended, but you surely cant justify using this as an excuse to criticise everyone white and/or french

esther, 10-14-2009, 1:10PM

After reading the article, I didn't think much of it until I actually clicked on the pictures. What a blow to see these pictures!! I don't understand if they wanted to showcase the outfits or not. In these pictures, one only sees the blackface. This is artistic expression? Of what may I ask? Why didn't you just use ethnic models if you wanted to showcase skin color? Oh, I know, controversy sells. Well, since I never read nor bought any of Vogue's mags, I will make sure I never do and will let people know about this racist illustration in the name of art.

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BethDEATH, 10-15-2009, 1:17PM

I don't see what's so bad about it. People need to stop screaming racism everytime the most minimal thing happens. If you want racism to be in the past, stop making a big deal about nothing. That's why there still is racism, because people keep getting their feelings hurt over something that wasn't even intended on getting you all teary-eyed and flustered. I wouldn't have a problem if someone felt the need to emulate my race for art or fashion.

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smeef, 10-14-2009, 1:42PM

You don't know what you are talking about. The question you need to ask yourself is not why people keep screaming racisim but whether something happend here that warranted discussion regardless of what else has happened in the recent past. Why did they feel the need to paint this young girl in blackface? Blackface used in almost anyway is controversial BECAUSE of the way it has be used historically. It was used to perpetuate sterotypes. What is the sterotype here? Are they saying that black peole have bad teeth and are slightly larger that the rest of the population? Ask yourself, what is the purpose of this expression. I think for the most part we can all agree that just because you call it art doesn't mean you get to do what ever you want. There was no need for this display. As someone else noted, this act takes away from what ever article of clothing they were trying to display and does not reflect well on the model either. Overcoming racism isn ot forgetting the past, it is learning from it, so the premise of your argument is just flat wrong.

vig, 10-14-2009, 1:55PM

I agree, I don't know what the big deal was, they just looked like they were colored to look like she was from a black and white photo with colored clothes, or faux sepia tone, not like they were trying to make her look ehtnic. the clothes were not really ethnic looking either. Why does every one get so weird about color? would this have been such a big deal if she were blue?

Tyra, 10-16-2009, 1:44PM

I bet your not black and you most likely have never delt with rascism.

Maeistro, 10-15-2009, 10:13AM

Bethdeath you are the real reasons racisim still exist all over the world. Although you may not actually be racist (which is giving you the benefit of the doubt), white insensitivity to race sensitive issues serves to perpetuate racist attitudes. As a better example, what if every time lets say ... the Devil (ie. abject Evil) was depicted, he was depicted as being European American, would that offend your sense and sensibilities then? Get a clue white people. Degrading other human beings simple because they are not white (thank God) is never 'in Vogue' (tongue in cheek)!!!!!!

lynez, 10-14-2009, 11:36PM

@BethDeath: You probably think that them showing a model swinging from a noose is ART. Start walking in the shoes of Black History and you will see it is never okay.

EastEnder, 10-23-2009, 10:17AM

Beth, The fact is that the images are still painful to dark skinned people. Even if the portrayal was not that of the stereotypical black face of the Al Jolson era. Black face to us is like the swastika to is to victims of the holocaust. It symbolizes the years of humiliation and degradation that people of color suffered in this country. Have you any idea what its like to be considered less than simply because of the color of your skin? I am offended, because that shoot says to me that they would rather paint a white person black than use a real black person...once again, we are not good enough.

lartemism, 10-14-2009, 5:46PM

The same thing was also done in show America's Next Top Model (not sure which cycle). Dark skin was transformed into light, light into dark, one model of Irish decent was made Asian, etc. And who suggested the shoot, Tyra. They were beautiful pictures (like these are). "Black face" to me is a mocking coloration that was done only to the face, ending at the jaw line and skits were done to degrade.

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charles carman, 10-14-2009, 2:00PM

I dont understand why they didnt just use negroes for the shoot, if thats what they wanted to depict. white people dont have the wide nose, and the nap to their hair, negroes do. furthermore, im tired of the whole "youve insulted me" thing. if you dont like it, then do something about it. it doesnt bother me either way, cause im not so lead by public opinion, or by what the large corporations try to sell people on. it's stupid anyway, just dont buy their stuff. why do people need to buy $200 or more jeans, etc?
are people so dumb that they cant tell when they are being lead to the slaughter fueled by the media anyway?

Reply »

brooklynposh, 10-18-2009, 4:54PM

clearly you are ignorant. all black people do not have wide noses or "nap" hair whatever the hell that is

Maeistro, 10-15-2009, 10:14AM

Bethdeath and Vig are the real reasons racisim still exist all over the world. Although they may not actually be racist themselves (which is giving them the benefit of the doubt), white insensitivity to race sensitive issues serves to perpetuate racist attitudes. Vic, do you know any 'Blue' skinned human beings? As a better example, what if every time lets say ... the Devil (ie. abject Evil) was depicted, he was depicted as being European American, would that offend your sense and sensibilities then? Get a clue white people. Degrading other human beings simple because they are not white (thank God) is never 'in Vogue' (tongue in cheek)!!!!!!

Reply »

Tyra, 10-16-2009, 1:44PM

There are plenty of beautiful black models they could have used instead. I think it's very insensitive of Vogue knowing that black people have had such a hard time getting jobs anywhere because of rascism in every field. So instead of hiring the beautiful black models that work hard and are available, they paint white models black? How insulting to the black race!!!! And anyone who doesn't agree is definitly not black and maybe they should look inside themselves and face that they are also rascist. It's just another way to go around hiring black people for the job. They can just paint white girls black!!! Hopefully this won't be the trend!!! Art is not neccesarily beautiful, it can be ugly and I will never purchase a Vogue magazine again!!!
Sincerely Your White Sister!

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Celeste, 10-14-2009, 9:52PM

The pics are somewhat offensive.

Not as much as the "negroes...nap to their hair" comment above, but offensive nonetheless.

Also not as much as the recent Australian TV show troupe dancing to a Michael Jackson in the actual black-colored "comic" blackface. That was the worst of the three.

The pics above are offensive more for the slap in the face to the beauty of ACTUAL dark-skinned women than for the historical reference -- since her full-body, dark coffee-colored makeup doesn't resemble the historical reference of comic, demeaning blackface like the Aussie TV show did.

To me it just looks like a presumably beautiful white woman mimicking a kind of beauty that is not her own. Tasteless.

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Allison, 10-15-2009, 9:16PM

@vig... this does not look like it was supposed to be black & white, so get outta here with that. and blackface has a terrible connotation, which is why people are outraged. if she were blue, no one would care because blue people arent associated with negative things.

@ charles carman... im not gonna say you insulted me, because you didnt. however, i will say that you are extremely inconsiderate and stereotypical as to say white people dont have big noses and nappy hair. not all black people have wide noses and nappy hair either.

think before you speak.. especially you carman

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Anon, 10-15-2009, 12:52AM

You say that no one would care if they were blue because blue people aren't associated with negative things but that means you feel that black people are associated with negative things. I as a non-rasist white person I would never make that connection because I DON'T associate black people with negative things. It's offensive that there are a lot of black people out there that automatically assume that white people feel this way and are offended just by the very fact that we would admit that there is a difference in the color of our skin. It doesn't mean that there is a difference in the value of a person.

As far as these photos go I don't see what is so insulting other than: if they wanted dark skin, why not use a black person? I can't answer that because I'm not the artist. What I CAN relate to in these photos though is that I see a girl pretending to be something she isn't. I think that can be said of everybody- no matter their race.

I'm Irish- and as far back as I can remember I've longed for dark, beautiful skin. Perhaps that is what the point of these pictures are. A seemingly beautiful girl, changing herself in an unecessary way to be what she believes to be more beautiful. I don't see the offense in that - it's a reflection of reality. .... Now if these were photos in the style of original "blackface" with the model making fun of African heritage - then I could understand the outrage.

Guy, 10-15-2009, 1:12AM

yeah allison, you're racist. go back to your blue house with your blue window and leave us the hell out of this.

and as for you anon, right on.

Allison, 10-15-2009, 9:20PM

@Anon... you are right. Black people are not always associated with negative things, so I retract that statement. I didnt say I assumed all white people felt this way. I dont think all white people think negatively of blacks and I dont think the color of a person's skin should matter when it really comes down to it. You are very right in all of your statements.

@Guy... um, no I'm not racist.

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