Models Of Diversity | Interview With CEO Angel Sinclair

At the beginning of this year I made it my mission to feature more and more disability content here on my blog. I wasn't going to tip toe around the topic anymore and I certainly wasn't going to hold back on what I thought. Within that I've really wanted to interview certain people, everyone from disabled actors to companies who are striving to improve accessibility and inclusivity and today I'm finally delivering on that promise to myself. I recently got the opportunity to interview the CEO of Models Of Diversity, Angel Sinclair, about why she set up MOD and how the fashion industry needs to improve.

'Models of Diversity is the campaign for more diversity in the models we see every day.  We call on the fashion, beauty and marketing industries to recognise the beauty in people of all races, ages, shapes, sizes and abilities. Our mission is to change the face of fashion and modelling. We campaign at at fashion events, hold street surverys, offer workshops and vigorously promote a more diverse range of models that reflect diversity in society.'

What inspired you to set up Models Of Diversity?

Taking part in Gok Wan's Miss Naked Beauty TV show led me to see that there was a lack of diversity within the fashion industry. I asked myself the questions: Where are the models of colour? The Disabled Models? The older and larger models? Where are the models that represent the consumers?

What changes would you like to see within the industry to make it more inclusive and diverse?

I would like to see the use of models of all shapes, sizes, colours, abilities and age used as normal in fashion campaigns, the beauty industry and the mainstream media. I would like the fashion industry to be inclusive of all and not just stick to the stereotypical model that we currently see.

How can the everyday person help to improve diversity within the industry?

By talking about it, asking questions directed at fashion brands and retailers as to why they are not inclusive. The more people that talk about these issues, the more voices that will be heard. By asking questions it leads retailers to have to question themselves as to why they are not more diverse.

What has been your proudest moment since setting up MOD?

Whilst there have been so many moments I have been proud of such as two disabled models I work with opening London Fashion Week and one becoming a regular on Little Women LA, my proudest moment has to be the Curves and Couture show I put together in 2011.

Big thanks to Angel for speaking to me! I am so glad that Models Of Diversity exist and are actively campaigning for the fashion industry to change and improve. There are around 13 million disabled people in the UK alone, that's a lot of people who aren't being represented and that's without even considering people of colour, older people, plus size people etc. There are too many people who cannot see themselves when they open a fashion magazine or scroll through clothing websites and this needs to change.

Follow Models Of Diversity on Twitter to keep up to date with everything they're doing!