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2017 BET Awards - Arrivals

Source: Leon Bennett / Getty

It’s no secret that the fashion and modeling industry falls short when it comes to inclusion. Your skin could be the first marker on whether you’ll get a gig or not. Luckily, today there are a few major leaders in the industry expanding the boundaries of what beauty looks like. Swipe below to check out seven models who are killing the runway, slaying the poses, and inspiring many when it comes to loving the skin you’re in.

 

Ralph Souffrant

Highlights:

– Appeared in the Yeezy Season 3 fashion show

– Was apart of Ivy Park campaign with Laverne Cox 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYbRfyyjf2Z/?hl=en&taken-by=souffrantnyc

Duckie Thot

Highlights:

– Was on Australia’s Next Top Model

– One of the faces of Fenty Beauty makeup

 

Diandra Forrest

Highlights:

– Appeared in Beyoncé‘s “Pretty Hurts” music video

– She’s the first model with albinism to land a major beauty campaign with Wet n Wild’s Breaking Beauty

 

Winnie Harlow

Highlights:

– Got her big break on America’s Next Top Model

– She has since shot for brands like Diesel, Dazed magazine and Ebony magazine

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bat4Xa0hP5i/?hl=en&taken-by=winnieharlow

 

Nyakim Gatwech

Highlights:

– Gained attention when she shared the story of an Uber driver asking if she would bleach her skin for $10,000 — obviously she said no

– Has now modeled for a bunch of photographers and brands including Calvin Klein

Khoudia Diop

Highlights:

– Was teased as a kid for her dark skin tone and now she’s the face of Make Up For Ever’s #BlendInStandOut campaign

– She also models for The Colored Girl campaign which seeks to “disrupt accepted ‘beauty ‘norms'”

 

Shaun Ross

Highlights:

– Known as the first male albino pro model, he has been featured in photo campaigns for brands such as British GQ, Italian Vogue, i-D Magazine, Paper Magazine and Another Man

– He’s appeared in music videos for artists like Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Leona Lewis.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYBta08lmFS/?hl=en&taken-by=shaundross