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Answering a Reader Question #61


Anonymous Wrote:

I know this is an older post but i have a question- i am half black and half white and i know jet magazine is an african american magazine. i would be interested in submitting a photo but i am fair skinned to the point where my skin is the color of a caucasian person, my eyes are blue, and by looking at me most might not be able to tell i am even mixed with black. I was wondering in YOUR honest opinion if you think i would have a chance. I know that african-american womens' view of mixed women is not always a positive one and i have had to deal with a lot of struggles because of that. have you ever seen a white looking mixed girl with blue eyes in any of their issues or could you find out? thank you so much and i hope i have some kind of chance. if not i know they are missing out not me, but i would appreciate the help. thank! 

Hi, Anonymous, this is an interesting question--thank you for asking it! Based on your situation and physical description I think you would have a difficult time becoming a Beauty of the Week, simply because the editors may be worried that readers will not understand (or believe) that you are mixed and could cause a big stink. However, I will say that I have seen fair-skinned women as Beauty of the Week before, although not with blue eyes (green eyes I have seen, though). I think that if you have darker hair then you may be able to swing it.

I completely know what you are talking about when it comes to certain people's view of mixed women appearing in publications that are targeted towards a specific demographic: they are either all for it or they believe that they are stealing the limelight. However, the only way you'll know is if you try. There is no harm at all in sending your photos to them. Simply explain that you are of mixed race. The worst they can do is not choose you--nothing lost, nothing gained so I say go for it anyway.

***I cannot speak for anyone but myself on this topic so please do not send me comments or emails trying to discuss the ethics of my statements in regards to race...that is not the point of this post.***
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Anonymous said…
thank you so much for your answer. I do have dark brown hair and it is a fierce curly in a diana ross way lol so maybe i can pull it off. It is great to be able to get an answer from someone who can empathize with my situation. The reason i specifically wanted to do JET is because even though i look caucasian to some people-i still like to rep my african american women. Also the beauties of the week featured in this magazine represent a wide variety of body types. not only do i fit in the category of an average sized woman, but also i support magazines who cross the barrier and give us medium size girls a fair chance and isnt raunchy. Its crazy how i am always complimented on the beauty of my blue eyes since it is an extreme rarity with mixed women, yet it can be a hinderance with my own race-crazy how things work. I appreciate your honesty and the time you took to answer my question and best wishes with your modeling career
January 12, 2010 at 5:21 PM
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