ria’s Secret Fashion Show by casting models of all races, sizes, heights, and gender identities,” Chong said. A look at She acknowledges that while brands have appearance and gender not always been mindful of the body dysmor- s trends phia, low self-esteem, and eating disorders norms across industries come and go and that their practices promote, they are taking Atimes change, the standards with- steps towards diversity and body positivity to SOFIA MANG, STAFF WRITER in industries do the same. The typical work- mitigate the damage they caused in the past. SANJANA GOPU, STAFF WRITER er in any role changes repeatedly, whether in “It’s heartening to see more and more in- appearance or skills, leaving some students dustry professionals now stepping up to prior- unsure of what expectations they will face in itize diversity and come to realize that people their future careers. want to see other people that look like them, MODELING rather than people they want to look like,” An industry that has perpetuated high, Chong said. selective standards is the modeling industry, This awakening to inclusivity is complete- known for its preference for tall, slim figures ly different from what former model and Salt with Eurocentric features. This partiality to- Agency CEO and Director Madeleine Almer- wards such features leads many prospective ing encountered in the ‘90s. Now that the models to rethink their career plans or lose industry has become so much more inclusive, their passion for modeling entirely. However, she finds it satisfying to see how the industry’s VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT improvement, now prioritizing a model’s per- NHSMESSENGER.ORG efforts to become more inclusive have been somewhat effective, giving hope to those who sonality and brand being over looks. OR SCAN THIS QR may not fit the “model body” stereotype. “Now, I find that personality plays 50% CODE TO READ THE Senior Jamie Chong, who started mod- in the role of whether or not somebody gets FULL ARTICLE eling two years ago, recalls her struggle to signed to an agency,” Almering said. “It’s not find an agency that would sign her because just, ‘Are they a pretty person?’ but, “Are they of her petite build. At the time, agencies still a nice person too?’ [and] ‘Do they have a good followed many strict height and size require- personality?’ Back in the ‘90s, that didn’t mat- ments, but they were taking gradual steps to be ter. It was just, ‘Are they tall, or if they’re 5’9” more inclusive. Working as a model, though, for a female [and] 6 feet tall for a male.’” Chong witnessed much performative activism While modeling remains a beauty-based in the name of this so-called inclusivity. career field, many people have been excited to “I’ve seen many agencies and fashion see these changes enacted over time. Almering brands pride themselves in being diverse solely notices that now, the line between influencers because they check off the box of having one and models has been blurred, as influencers curvy model or one Asian model, while the can now use their platforms to inspire other rest of their rosters or campaigns remain ho- people, even though most of them aren’t pic- mogenous with tall, skinny, Eurocentric-look- ture-perfect supermodels. ing models,” Chong said. “In New York, you couldn’t walk in the However, she notes that some industry door, if you were under 5’9” before,” she said. leaders are starting to dismantle this standard, “Now in New York, they have petite divisions and inclusivity has increased significantly in at certain agencies, and they’ll take a model the last couple of years. For instance, Ri- that’s 5’5” [if] she’s an influencer as well.” hanna’s Savage X Fenty Show in 2019 fea- Almering’s agency contributed to the tured numerous models representing move towards inclusivity as well, and various demographics. part of it is designated for influenc- “I think the defining moment ers that do not fit the traditional that gave me hope for diversity standards. She hopes to provide in the industry was witnessing more room for freedom—with the how Rihanna’s show com- models and with the public. pletely swept away the “Half of my agency is the lifestyle infamous Victo- [and] commercial board. Lifestyle and commercial print has become huge since the ‘90s, and that means you don’t have to be a certain 20 THE MESSENGER | 21 FEATURES height, you don’t have to be a certain age, and said. “It’s just that unconscious bias that you you don’t have to be a certain weight,” Almer- have, not even thinking about certain things ing said. that may make other people feel like they’re Modeling standards are moving in a less qualified or that they don’t know what positive direction in a victory for those who they may be talking about.” have wanted to see themselves represented As an immigrant, Budim immediately by models of their race or body type on the noticed the lack of interest in STEM among screen for so long. While eliminating physical women in the US, recalling how few females requirements in modeling entirely may be im- there were when she was working towards her possible, agencies are making a visible effort to master’s degree in software engineering. Even make these standards more flexible. out of these women, she found the majority STEM were foreigners, not those born in the US. “It didn’t pose a barrier [for me], but for Women have always been underrepre- maybe girls that grew up here, they may be sented in the STEM field, but despite this, noticing those subtle, subtle messages, and many of them, including Neelima Budim, the maybe that’s probably why they are taken director of software engineering at Cox Au- aback and not showing that interest in this tomotive, have gone on to prove their worth field,” Budim says. through hard work. Since becoming a suc- Michelle Heo, vice president and engi- cessful engineer, Budim has watched as oth- neering head of Northview’s Robotics team, er young women felt held back by the lack of the TechnoTitans, has experienced first-hand gender equality in the industry. Because of the this implicit bias against girls in STEM. Over backlash that girls in STEM face, she believes the past two years, she has worked to reduce encouraging them to further their careers is gender disparities within the TechnoTitans. extremely important, and her position at Cox During Heo’s first year on the team, she Automotive allows her to do just that. Budim noticed gender stereotypes played a part in and her colleagues provide resources and op- determining students’ roles. While boys were portunities for high school girls who want to allowed to work hands-on with the robots, pursue STEM careers and prepare them for girls were often assigned clerical tasks, like the stigma they may have to face in the field. paperwork to their dismay, even as the year “Especially [in] our department, there are progressed. quite a few folks who dedicate their time to “I initially signed up to help build the volunteer for coding for girls, feminine tech- robot, and for the majority of my freshman nology with girls, [and] job shadowing,” she season, I spent minimal time helping build said. mechanisms and instead organized the tools Compared to other more physically de- and wrote documents for our safety program,” manding jobs, she sees her specialty, comput- Heo said. “I was assigned these tasks while my er science, as a field where women can really male counterparts were allowed to work under demonstrate their capabilities because the the upperclassmen, helping them build robots only thing that matters is how many errors a while I strayed further and further from what programmer’s code contains and whether they I wanted to do.” can fix said errors, regardless of whether they After being subject to this discrimination, are male or female. Heo advocated for gender equality among “In computer science, you’re just us- the team towards the end of her freshman ing your intellectual skills, and you’re year, initiating training and pushing for bet- learning the ability to write code, so ter treatment of girls. While STEM workers there isn’t any field out there that of both genders are expected to be responsi- speaks better to equality,” Bu- ble and motivated, she sees a clear difference dim said. between how women and men are perceived. While she has witnessed “In regard to STEM fields, women, for a no intentional discouragement long time and even today, aren’t seen as the towards girls in STEM, she be- driving forces or leaders in these fields,” Heo lieves there are people in the U.S. said. “The typical “female” standard, a wom- who harbor an implicit bias against an who is motherly, organized, a good listener women. over a good leader, dominates the minds of “I don’t think it is intentional. many people, and though this seems like some I feel like everybody has good in- ancient standard, it is still prevalent today.” tentions,” Budim 20 THE MESSENGER | 21.