Allure: The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously charming or attractive
A prevalent sense of confidence fills the room in the midst of undertones of nervous energy. There is a wide range of styles, personalities and body types represented, and each one wants to be chosen for the team.
Auditions are about to begin and each E-Board member of Allure Models gives a pep talk to the auditionees. As the potential new club members each strut across the makeshift runway, the energy in the room changes from hesitant and individual to a supportive community of people, all brought together by a love of modeling. This environment is normal for Stevenson’s Allure Models.
Allure Models is Stevenson’s very own modeling club which puts on multiple events every year including runway shows, meet the models and collaborations with other clubs. Allure Models can be described as inclusive modeling because they are striving to break down traditional modeling stereotypes and practices.
The modeling industry has a reputation for being exclusive and focused on looks rather than skill. From Cindy Crawford, to Giselle Bündchen, to Gigi Hadid– all of these women have similar body types, styles and fit the bill for traditional modeling. The modeling industry prioritizes sameness and there is little room for diversity.
“Anybody should be able to model no matter what their identity entails . . . I feel like anyone should be able to model if they have the skill. Things like identity, sexual orientation, race, shouldn’t determine whether you should be able to model or not,” second-year Donzel Robinson said.
The problem with the modeling industry is not a surface level issue. Broadly speaking, the modeling industry is not inclusive to people who don’t fit a tall, slim and commonly white beauty standard. Underneath that, when mid-size or plus-sized models are hired they aren’t shown wearing the same types of clothes as their skinnier coworkers. They are dressed in less revealing and form-fitting outfits in order to complement their body type. This promotes the idea that only small bodies should be shown and larger ones should be hidden away.
The narrative that only certain types of bodies are beautiful or desirable causes problems for people of all sizes and can lead to unhealthy habits and behaviors. Many kids grow up with body image issues because of this narrative that is pushed online and by the media.
“I joined for confidence, especially with my body. I was bullied a lot as a kid. Growing up I used to think I wasn’t pretty enough to do stuff like that, then I got here and I saw girls on the team that looked like me,” Allure Models president Jazlyn Rush said.
Unlike the modeling industry, Allure allows differences to stand out and they embrace inclusive modeling.
“All shapes, all sizes, no judgment . . . In the real world there’s cuts just because of looks . . . But that’s what makes the team, is that everyone is different,” second-year Nneoma Oseagulu said.
