Claudia Schiffer Poses in Blackface with an Afro To Represent "Different Men's Fantasies": Is it Racist?

Does a beautiful white model in black face and an Afro turn men on? According to Karl Lagerfeld and the German quarterly magazine, Stern Fotographie, that answer is yes.

For the 60th issue of the magazine, Karl Lagerfeld compiled 20 years of photos of legendary supermodel, Claudia Schiffer. Schiffer graces the issue's six covers, dressed up as everything from a secretary to Marie Antoniette. On two of those covers, she dresses up to resemble Asian and African-American women. And that's where the controversy begins.

 We've exhausted the conversation about white models made up to look like black women, following the V Magazine, America's Next Top Model and French Vogue shoots, but this cover is more than just blackface.

The garb (Asian-inspired dress), hair (afro) and makeup (heavy eyeliner to make eyes appear slanted) are meant to emulate the look and style of black and Asian cultures. Schiffer is in full Asian/Afro-American costume in these images.

Many feel it is a mockery, and at the very least, an insensitive image, given the widely-documented struggle for models of color to permeate the Fashion World.

And as for Karl Lagerfeld, though he's still my husband in my head, he just can't stay out of controversy (ahem...who could forget those regrettable comments he made about plus-size women?).


What do you think? Are the covers offensive? Is the backlash warranted? Why or why not?

Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura

Photo: Karl Lagerfeld for Dom Perignon
Source: The Daily Mail