Blackface on model Sasha Pivovarova in 'V Magazine'

Filed under: Cosmetics, Beauty Tips

Blackface is making headlines for the third time in as many weeks.

The upcoming issue #62 of "V Magazine" will feature model Sasha Pivovarova in dark face and body makeup, in an amorous embrace with relatively pale model Heidi Mount.

The spread is accompanied by the quote, "Black is the new black," by James Kaliardos, Creative Director, L'Oreal Paris International, who created the look as part of the feature "Beauty 2010" for which "V" asked the world's leading creative directors, makeup artists and hairstylists define what's beautiful for the new decade.

"2010 sounds like the future, and this is what it will look like," says the magazine.

This is hot the heels of last week's "America's Next Top Model" episode that featured the contestants painted in varying degrees of dark makeup to depict bi-racial women, and last month's critically debated issue of model Lara Stone in blackface in the October issue of "French Vogue."

Last week, we polled StyleList readers on how they felt about the use of blackface on America's Next Top Model, and out of nearly 21,000 readers, 53% thought the photos were a beautiful celebration of bi-racial women and only 11% found it offensive.

We're interested to see if readers feel the same way about this instance in "V," or if it brings up parallel concerns with French Vogue's use of blackface: Why didn't the magazine use a darker-skinned model instead of painting a white model black?

Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Blackface on model Sasha Pivovarova in 'V Magazine' originally appeared on StyleList Fashion Blog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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