is said to be in the eye of the beholder. In America, however, there seems to be a certain standard of attractiveness. This beauty is found in the faces of the models in magazines and the slender figures walking down the fashion runway. Quick looks through the pages of your favorite fashion publication or images of top designer’s fashion shows convey the idea that the look of beauty is relatively uniform.

It is clear that the number of ethnically diverse individuals in the fashion industry does not accurately reflect the general population. This limited representation has caused public concern in recent months. Current effort to change the imbalance of the industry has been seen in a few key fashion players. Bethann Hardison, a former model, presently works to raise awareness about the standardization seen in runway models; similarly, casting director, Ms. Venditti, famous for casting unique models, has been working harder to encourage designers to use diverse models this season.

The attention on ethnicity has caused the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to voice an opinion. The CFDA encouraged fashion designers and casting directors to broaden their selection of models during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2008 in New York.

Discussion about the lack of diversity in the fashion industry is not to say that there is no representation of people with varied cultural backgrounds. In fact it is the conversation about this problem that has lead to increased use of ethnic models. For example, Vogue Italia’s July 2008 issue featured almost entirely African American models shot by acclaimed fashion photographer, Steven Meisel. Featured in Vogue’s Black Issue was Arlenis Sosa, a Dominican model, who has gained attention in New York’s Fashion Week as an Oscar de la Renta favorite, opening and closing his show. Similarly, Sean Combs, Hip-Hop Mogul and designer of Sean John, used only African-American models to showcase his fall line in his February 2008 fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Although steps were made in a promising direction during New York’s Fashion Week, Milan’s runways did not follow suite. The three major shows: Armani, Marni and Jil Sander did not include a single African American or Asian model; whereas Gucci and Prada used only one African American model each. In contrast, showcasing a bit of variety was Botega Veneta with four African American models and one Asian model.

Chanel Iman, walked twice during Gucci’s show, making her the first African American model to appear on a Gucci runway since 2005. Also strutting down the catwalk in Milan was South Korean model Hyoni Kang who appeared in Michael Kors’ show and closed for Nanette Lepore.

In addition to the racially diverse models making appearances at Fashion Week’s around the world, we can expect to see Mexican born model Danijela De Jesus Cosio. Born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico the 22-year-old began modeling after participating in Mexico’s official beauty pageant, Nuestra Belleza Mexico, in 2005.

Thus far in her career Cosio has appeared in Italian Vogue’s October 2007 editorial; and she has graced the covers of Mexico’s Balance in 2006, United States’ Simply the Best and Palm Beach Illustrated and the April 2008 issue of Italian Maxim.

Beauty, regardless of color, deserves to be appreciated and celebrated. One can hope that with the continued use of models like Sosa, Iman, Kang and Cosio on runways and magazine covers our traditional standard of beauty will not remain the same.

For more information about Danijela stop by her website and myspace page.

By Dyani Vanderhorst