It's insane to me how she's considered plus size. I literally can't even believe that. Most girls I see are around her size. That in itself, along with the makeup issue, is a problem.
she's actually retained her full accent.. with a mixture of the rolled "R" because she is also very fluent in arabic.. shes actually fluent in 5 different languages.
Eric Perkins Jr... make sure that when you've made a decision that's it definitely you....a lot of ppl make decisions without finding their true selves first....and make these very serious decisions based on influence...from friends or your environment...without making that necessary self journey first.....
It's so stupid.. I mean even if brands only think about money they should have make up for dark skins too... It's not like if they were rare... I don't get it.
Or the nude stuff that are only nudes for white folks. Black folks need their own nude and it's still rarely provide I don't get how brands can miss all these markets...
lucie goodvibe I believe they will have to think about it because you get more and more buyers with dark skin so at some point it will not be an option to ditch it ;)
imancosmetics I wish we knew more about the inner workings of IMAN. I would love to see how you chose colors, packaging, and marketing. You know it's easier to find IMAN in New England than it is to find in Miami!
We should all understand that diversity on the media the key for tolerance. If we are just exposed to one type of beauty there is no way that we can embrace us features instead of trying to change them to fit the ideal stereotype. Thanks I-D
Wow, she's beautiful! I think if you have a very dark or very light skin tone it's hard to find makeup. Like unless you're sort of beige/tan its really hard to find makeup at the drugstore to match you. I'm paper white, like chalk white, like I glow in the freaking dark and when I get sick or cold my skin has a bluish hue. Most foundations, even high end makeup sometimes, is too dark for me and makes me look yellowy orange. It's really stupid and even more stupid that "dark" or "deep" is like my pale pastiness with a tan lol. Sorry makeup brands, that's not dark at all, way to exclude a huge amount of people who want to buy your products. We definitely need more shades! One of my favorite UA-camrs Jackie Aina talks about this too.
yes! but i feel like lighter skin tones have alot of brands that dedicate themselves for women of pale complexion unlike women of darker complexion have to search far and wide.
kris h. In the late 90's Nars launched his brand with Alek Wek. That was a 1st because I don't think a make-up line had ever featured a girl that dark especially as the first images announcing a new brand. www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/nov/13/francois-nars-makeup-artist-sexy-models
Grimm Reaper true. they could have shot it in that town, granted, outside of nyc, america is so segregated that it still wouldnt be a huge issue. I think her real problem is feeling less attractive due to ppl not finding hr dark skin appealing. I wish she was more honest
That dark skinned host with the short hair is so pretty, don't ever say that being dark is ugly - it is your features, not color, that says if you are pretty or not.
though I don't have it as bad as black women, I've noticed how I also struggle to find a shade that matches me because I'm so pale. The beauty industry needs to wake up and realise not everyone buying makeup is tanned smh
This is interesting. I'm a black woman, probably the same color as Philomena and I have no difficulty finding foundation or concealer for my skin tone. Perhaps it's an issue the "higher up" you go, such as expensive boutiques in Manhattan, etc? I'm able to find what I need at Target, but then again, I don't know what even darker women experience. The industry is missing an entire corner of the market!
On one hand I think this is a very well made video that shows the fashion industry's neglect of women of darker skin tones. On the other hand I cannot help but challenge whether this kind of 'beauty activism' is the way to go. I don't wish for people of all colours and backgrounds to think that progress is to buy products and in term making the industry profit more. There is power in being not part of the mainstream. What is beauty? Is it something to be purchased? Does the fashion industry have too much power in defining it? Perhaps I am more critical, but a beauty activist to me should be challenging the societal expectations that women even need to wear makeup to be beautiful. Men are not expected to have to buy so many products to make themselves attractive. Yes, women should wear makeup if they want to, but to me, feeding into the profits of corporate giants is not progress.
Iman is an icon PERIOD! What it makes backwards nowadays is that you say that Iman is an icon for women of color. No, she is an icon for all the women, dear! Don't make divide.
santi santi She is an icon for all women, but in particular women of color, especially placed in a time where many were not even considered due to the color of their skin. Iman broke racial barriers for black models, which is why she has a special place in their hearts, and thus is an icon for women of color.
Except Iman is still an icon for women of color. Even today in 2017 the chances of black models making it to high fashion are still very slim when compared to white models who get paraded around and hired by the dozens. So yes Iman is an inspiration to women of COLOR, because so much of the fashion industry has already told her countless times that her skin color is undesirable or not wanted, but despite all the people within her industry telling her no, she made it to top model status and persevered. There's a young female or male black model right now being told they aren't "pretty" enough or that they aren't suited for the job because the makeup artist doesn't know how to do their makeup, or that they're not needed because they "already have enough token black models to meet the requirement". Models and people of color draw inspiration from seeing Iman's dedication and perseverance. This is NOT something all women go through. White models especially DO NOT receive that kind of treatment, especially in the world of fashion. They aren't forced to bring their own makeup to photoshoots because "we don't have your color", nor are they forced to bring their own hair products and basically do their own hair because the stylist "cant work with your kind of hair". There's absolutely nothing wrong with calling Iman an icon to women of color, because she's faced all these negative issues and has still come out on top. Wake me up when all women are told that their faces and hair can't be used or featured on ads, billboards, entertainment, media, magazines, etc, because companies are afraid that the audience can't find those people to be "relateable".
Everyone is beautiful. I just sit there and observe people around me, and I find so many things about them, I often wonder if they know how beautiful they are, really. Like the way hair curls on their necks, the length of their lashes, the form of their teeth, the way light plays with their skin, eyes and hair, the way they talk, the way they act genuinely when no one is around, the truth in their eyes, their freckles, the little imperfections here and there, etc. Human beings are absolutely beautiful in their diversity. There is always something new to see. You are beautiful, people. Seriously. ❤
Ugh, then we can create cosmetics for ourselves like Iman has done anyway. I'm not here for begging white PPP to cater to us. WE can cater to us just as other groups cater to themselves. It's so pathetic. Esp. in an era where black women are making strides.
its not about begging white people to cater to us. its just about acknowledging these inequalities so that we can work to create spaces for ourselves. its part of tackling the issue
Hot Cheeto this has been an ongoing issue for many many years and guess what, it's not going to get tackled or be dealt with anytime soon. The best thing black women/black people can do in all honesty is take advantage of these inequalities and start creating spaces for ourselves.
That is what it is, its literally begging them, the market is supply and demand. If we supported black owned makeup companies we will get this in our local shelves, but we're begging chanel and L'oreal to make us included..
thank you miss phillimena thank you, so much for this story thank you and all of the other ladys thank you all an we all just love miss iman she is a icon super model, and she is an icon a champion for us all as models black women etc etc shes a hero for us all in this business and we love miss iman god bless you all be safe and be well amen amen.
You're right to recognize that the struggle to find a colour match can affect Asian women too. For example some Indonesian women can have deep yellow complexions that are not catered to. Until a few years ago even though I have medium skin tone I struggled to find a drug store match. Only MAC (had a good selection). Mac was innovative decades before Fenty, and then CoverFX. That said I still consider myself lucky compared to some deep toned Black women who were ignored for so long by companies. It is hard to believe how recent shade inclusivity with deep skin tones is :(.
It would be great if more people of color could make products for ourselves . That way we could make the colors of make up suitable for our many different skin tones.
there is this marc it calls "Atelier Paris" and they have a loooooot of dark colors, I'm a makeup artist, Istudy on Brazil and you have a lot of black beautifull womans whit dark skin tones and was amazing for me to used because it mancht whit all skin tones of my black model's. Mary Kay have darks colors too, I used that marc for my balck clients. But yeah, it have to be more easy to any person to just go to an store and buy a makeup of your skin tone
i am a german small curvy girl and it deeply upsets me how little diversity is shown in fashion. These black women are beautiful and have no reason at all to feel otherwise. the make up that is sold in many stores is just yellow. i am really pale with a blue undertone and mixed CLOWN GREASE PAINT mixed with a tinted moisturizer for a while in order to have something that matches. Whats the point? They are obviously missing out on profit by limiting on these beige shades
It's insane to me how she's considered plus size. I literally can't even believe that. Most girls I see are around her size. That in itself, along with the makeup issue, is a problem.
Dat Swan she's not slim enough, that's why plus size
hence eating disorders
The modelling industry is riddled with insanity and perversion.
Yes! I was thinking the same thing. She is considered plus size??? This world, this world....
Yea she ain't plus size😑
she's beautiful 😍😍
the ladies in the video are so pretty, and i loved their hair 💓
I love that Iman still retains some of her accent.
Sineade Williams lol.....a lot!
Iman doesn't sound like she's lived in the USA as long as she has. It is fascinating 😍😍
she's actually retained her full accent.. with a mixture of the rolled "R" because she is also very fluent in arabic.. shes actually fluent in 5 different languages.
I love black women.
Umm...pretty fine yourself
Michael VR lmao I'm only 18 and uncertain about my sexuality but sure why not
Eric Perkins Jr... make sure that when you've made a decision that's it definitely you....a lot of ppl make decisions without finding their true selves first....and make these very serious decisions based on influence...from friends or your environment...without making that necessary self journey first.....
debbie marquis- i think your comment was meant for Eric Perkins Jr
hannah scott yes...it was ...thanks. ..
PHILOMENA IS BEAUTIFUL!!!
she is gorge as hell. the accent and that dreamy vocal tone . she's everything .
Lechiffresix six IKR!!!!😍😍😍
Philomena is gorgeous and her skin is flawless !!!
Philomena is a beautiful ghanaian queen. Her skin is just 😍👌🏾
Oh wow I just knew she was Ghanaian 😍🙌🏾
Iman is so gorgeous and timeless!!
Pretty
Iman makes Somalis proud 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
"Growing up as a young black girl in London, I struggled to buy makeup that work for my skin tone" ... story of my life
It's so stupid.. I mean even if brands only think about money they should have make up for dark skins too...
It's not like if they were rare... I don't get it.
True :3 and same goes for overweight sizes. I still don't get it :/
Or the nude stuff that are only nudes for white folks. Black folks need their own nude and it's still rarely provide I don't get how brands can miss all these markets...
haha yeah, loboutin did a cool ad with ballerina shoes using models from different colors but I don't think brands even think about it tbh :S
lucie goodvibe I believe they will have to think about it because you get more and more buyers with dark skin so at some point it will not be an option to ditch it ;)
gentle reminder Iman is in her 60's. just let that sink in..
bluepearlagain No, demanding a birth certificate.
she is so beautiful
plus size?! she's stunning!!!
Frugality yeah right
Frugality plus sized can be stunning!!!!
Yeah, it's crazy what is considered plus size...She is stunning and there shouldn't be divide between plus size and whatever size.
plus size *IS* stunning sis!
succ me yep!!!
The interviewer with the braids is so pretty. The "plus" size model is stunning.
I wish IMAN would re-brand her cosmetics line, her makeup was the first that I started using.
Oh my word, Philomena is gorgeous; her skin is absolutely flawless!
I can't deal with the huge amount of beauty and #blackgirlmagic in this video.
This is beautiful and we thank you for this collaboration.
imancosmetics I wish we knew more about the inner workings of IMAN. I would love to see how you chose colors, packaging, and marketing. You know it's easier to find IMAN in New England than it is to find in Miami!
KissOfDanger
You can buy online.
✊🏿🖤👑
We should all understand that diversity on the media the key for tolerance. If we are just exposed to one type of beauty there is no way that we can embrace us features instead of trying to change them to fit the ideal stereotype. Thanks I-D
The women in this video are gorgeous!
This girl SLAYS MY EXISTANCE!
her face is so beautiful it looks like it was drawn
I'm from Malaysia, a country of mainly brown and black skinned people and we can hardly find dark toned foundation over here, it's crazy.
Jheeeeez she's beyond Beautiful and her skinnn😫😍 gold
Iman is so gorgeous, it's a bit ridiculous lol
absolutely loved this!! presenter is soo beautiful. really lovely concept this video
thank you i-D for helping making the world a more diverse place for everyone
I was tearing up at the end. This was so beautifully done. Thank you i-D. 💗😚
thecomplexgirls
Me, too...Black Women Rock!!!
Every second I could not help myself but think "wow she is so beautiful" 😍
I wonder when this was filmed and I hope that Iman is doing well after the passing of David.
I was literally thinking the exact same thing
Iman is my role model ❤❤❤ someone please do a documentary about her!
Wow, she's beautiful! I think if you have a very dark or very light skin tone it's hard to find makeup. Like unless you're sort of beige/tan its really hard to find makeup at the drugstore to match you. I'm paper white, like chalk white, like I glow in the freaking dark and when I get sick or cold my skin has a bluish hue. Most foundations, even high end makeup sometimes, is too dark for me and makes me look yellowy orange. It's really stupid and even more stupid that "dark" or "deep" is like my pale pastiness with a tan lol. Sorry makeup brands, that's not dark at all, way to exclude a huge amount of people who want to buy your products. We definitely need more shades! One of my favorite UA-camrs Jackie Aina talks about this too.
yes! but i feel like lighter skin tones have alot of brands that dedicate themselves for women of pale complexion unlike women of darker complexion have to search far and wide.
in nyc its easy to find any skintone at a big department store, sephora, or mac..... nars, too
kris h. In the late 90's Nars launched his brand with Alek Wek. That was a 1st because I don't think a make-up line had ever featured a girl that dark especially as the first images announcing a new brand. www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/nov/13/francois-nars-makeup-artist-sexy-models
Kris, not everyone lives in NYC though.
Grimm Reaper true. they could have shot it in that town, granted, outside of nyc, america is so segregated that it still wouldnt be a huge issue. I think her real problem is feeling less attractive due to ppl not finding hr dark skin appealing. I wish she was more honest
That dark skinned host with the short hair is so pretty, don't ever say that being dark is ugly - it is your features, not color, that says if you are pretty or not.
though I don't have it as bad as black women, I've noticed how I also struggle to find a shade that matches me because I'm so pale. The beauty industry needs to wake up and realise not everyone buying makeup is tanned smh
SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL
This is interesting. I'm a black woman, probably the same color as Philomena and I have no difficulty finding foundation or concealer for my skin tone. Perhaps it's an issue the "higher up" you go, such as expensive boutiques in Manhattan, etc? I'm able to find what I need at Target, but then again, I don't know what even darker women experience. The industry is missing an entire corner of the market!
how pretty! 😍
Omg Philomena is gorgeous!!
first shot comes, Im like wow.
With the second shot, all my brain cells explode with a single though
Who is this gorgeous woman??
Omg, Philomena has such beautiful, dewy, practically flawless skin!
What a beautiful woman in the beginning. The interviewer, wow!
On one hand I think this is a very well made video that shows the fashion industry's neglect of women of darker skin tones.
On the other hand I cannot help but challenge whether this kind of 'beauty activism' is the way to go. I don't wish for people of all colours and backgrounds to think that progress is to buy products and in term making the industry profit more.
There is power in being not part of the mainstream. What is beauty? Is it something to be purchased? Does the fashion industry have too much power in defining it?
Perhaps I am more critical, but a beauty activist to me should be challenging the societal expectations that women even need to wear makeup to be beautiful. Men are not expected to have to buy so many products to make themselves attractive. Yes, women should wear makeup if they want to, but to me, feeding into the profits of corporate giants is not progress.
how is iman 61?!??!
Claudia Ramirez
Yes, Iman still absolutely gorgeous.
Iman is an icon PERIOD! What it makes backwards nowadays is that you say that Iman is an icon for women of color. No, she is an icon for all the women, dear! Don't make divide.
santi santi She is an icon for all women, but in particular women of color, especially placed in a time where many were not even considered due to the color of their skin. Iman broke racial barriers for black models, which is why she has a special place in their hearts, and thus is an icon for women of color.
Except Iman is still an icon for women of color. Even today in 2017 the chances of black models making it to high fashion are still very slim when compared to white models who get paraded around and hired by the dozens. So yes Iman is an inspiration to women of COLOR, because so much of the fashion industry has already told her countless times that her skin color is undesirable or not wanted, but despite all the people within her industry telling her no, she made it to top model status and persevered. There's a young female or male black model right now being told they aren't "pretty" enough or that they aren't suited for the job because the makeup artist doesn't know how to do their makeup, or that they're not needed because they "already have enough token black models to meet the requirement". Models and people of color draw inspiration from seeing Iman's dedication and perseverance. This is NOT something all women go through. White models especially DO NOT receive that kind of treatment, especially in the world of fashion. They aren't forced to bring their own makeup to photoshoots because "we don't have your color", nor are they forced to bring their own hair products and basically do their own hair because the stylist "cant work with your kind of hair". There's absolutely nothing wrong with calling Iman an icon to women of color, because she's faced all these negative issues and has still come out on top. Wake me up when all women are told that their faces and hair can't be used or featured on ads, billboards, entertainment, media, magazines, etc, because companies are afraid that the audience can't find those people to be "relateable".
Stunning beauty ❤️
Philomena Kwao is f**king gorgeous!!!!
HOW IS SHE PLUS SIZE? SHE STUNNING!!! I love black women!
all these of beautiful women!
OMGGGGGAAAAA she doesn't need make her skin looks soo good
oh my god she is so gorgeous i get chills when i look at her
At last! The discussion has begun! hopefully this leads to change! Great documentary!
just pause the video @1:06 .. she has one of the most BEAUTIFUL smiles I have ever seen. how could anyone ever see "ugly" in a smile like that?
she's s9 beautiful! she doesn't need makeup
Omg I'm in love with her she is so Pretty!!!
2:50 the struggle is real!! WE need more of these shows please
OMG this girl is soo damn pretty
philomena is insanely gorgeous 😍
Wow the presenter chick is gorgeous, natural beauty 😍
noah fence but i thought she would be skinny when i saw the thumbnail
Ice Michael did you mean "no offense"? lol
Ice Michael sameee
noah fence but its a joke
They're so beautiful
SHE IS STUNNING
my gosh she is flipping gorgeous 😍
I think we need to see these things, not as problems, but as opportunities.
Be the one to create makeup for dark skinned people. The market is huge.
the presenter is gorgeous!
Damn she is beautiful
philomena is gorgeous
Philomena is compltetely breathtaking though. Like ... damn. Lol
So pretty 😍😍
Her skin tone is just perfect
Everyone is beautiful. I just sit there and observe people around me, and I find so many things about them, I often wonder if they know how beautiful they are, really. Like the way hair curls on their necks, the length of their lashes, the form of their teeth, the way light plays with their skin, eyes and hair, the way they talk, the way they act genuinely when no one is around, the truth in their eyes, their freckles, the little imperfections here and there, etc. Human beings are absolutely beautiful in their diversity. There is always something new to see. You are beautiful, people. Seriously. ❤
Beautiful women!! ❤️
So short but so impactful.
Ugh, then we can create cosmetics for ourselves like Iman has done anyway. I'm not here for begging white PPP to cater to us. WE can cater to us just as other groups cater to themselves. It's so pathetic. Esp. in an era where black women are making strides.
*white people
its not about begging white people to cater to us. its just about acknowledging these inequalities so that we can work to create spaces for ourselves. its part of tackling the issue
Hot Cheeto this has been an ongoing issue for many many years and guess what, it's not going to get tackled or be dealt with anytime soon. The best thing black women/black people can do in all honesty is take advantage of these inequalities and start creating spaces for ourselves.
That is what it is, its literally begging them, the market is supply and demand. If we supported black owned makeup companies we will get this in our local shelves, but we're begging chanel and L'oreal to make us included..
mzChocoSensualHedbob Shut up.
Wow such beautiful women!!
Wow these women are beautiful!
you're beautiful naturally! without makeup!
Philomena's voice is so soothing, someone use her for a voice over like rn
i love this video
thank you miss phillimena thank you, so much for this story thank you and all of the other ladys thank you all an we all just love miss iman she is a icon super model,
and she is an icon a champion for us all as models black women etc etc shes a hero for us all in this business and we love miss iman god bless you all be safe and be well amen amen.
ELLE EST BELLE! Je le crirai si je le pouvais.
They're all so beautiful. Like #beautygoals. 🙌🏽
Her beauty,
You're right to recognize that the struggle to find a colour match can affect Asian women too. For example some Indonesian women can have deep yellow complexions that are not catered to. Until a few years ago even though I have medium skin tone I struggled to find a drug store match. Only MAC (had a good selection). Mac was innovative decades before Fenty, and then CoverFX. That said I still consider myself lucky compared to some deep toned Black women who were ignored for so long by companies. It is hard to believe how recent shade inclusivity with deep skin tones is :(.
I love iman so much 😍😍😭
she is beautifullllll
Black people don't need makeup , their skin is so beautiful
Never knew Philomena was from the UK! She and Iman are gorgeous!
This video is super important during this time.
Iman has such a strong presence :-D
wtf? She qualifies as plus size??!!
It would be great if more people of color could make products for ourselves . That way we could make the colors of make up suitable for our many different skin tones.
She is so beautiful, I love her skin tone, just gorgeous. And my love, Iman, super gorgeous. I love Black women.
there is this marc it calls "Atelier Paris" and they have a loooooot of dark colors, I'm a makeup artist, Istudy on Brazil and you have a lot of black beautifull womans whit dark skin tones and was amazing for me to used because it mancht whit all skin tones of my black model's. Mary Kay have darks colors too, I used that marc for my balck clients. But yeah, it have to be more easy to any person to just go to an store and buy a makeup of your skin tone
i am a german small curvy girl and it deeply upsets me how little diversity is shown in fashion. These black women are beautiful and have no reason at all to feel otherwise. the make up that is sold in many stores is just yellow. i am really pale with a blue undertone and mixed CLOWN GREASE PAINT mixed with a tinted moisturizer for a while in order to have something that matches. Whats the point? They are obviously missing out on profit by limiting on these beige shades
Great article.
Yessssss! Thank you for doing this! xx
She has such a cute and beautiful face 💝
Love love love ❤️
Love Philomenas eyes