Iskra Lawrence and Hari Nef on What It Means to Be an Aerie Role Model
Aerie has made waves of change recently through their devotion to representing real bodies. And on January 23, they unveiled a new wave of that by announcing their spring 2020 #AerieREAL Role Models.
Last week, Aerie announced that Lana Condor, Ali Stroker, Hari Nef, Beanie Feldstein, Keiana Cavé, Dre Thomas, Tiff McFierce, and Manuela Barón are joining the team of #AerieREAL Role Models that previously included Iskra Lawrence, Aly Raisman, Brenna Huckaby, Molly Burke, and Jenna Kutcher. The campaign serves to further show the brand's dedication to diversity and representation of real, untouched bodies in its photographs and advertisements.
"Aerie really embraces exactly who you are right now, and they’re also willing to help you grow and evolve and support you through those journeys as well," Iskra told Teen Vogue.
The #AerieREAL Role Models campaign extends much further than just campaign images, however. Additionally, Aerie announced that it will now be launching a contest to invest $400,000 in grants later this year that will support 20 customers who are leading change in their own communities. For Iskra, being a part of this game-changing movement is an immensely special opportunity to share her platform and message with Aerie's customers.
"I think the best I can do is being authentically myself and realizing that being a role model doesn’t mean being perfect and living a perfect life. It means being open about your failures or mistakes, learning from them and trying to give people takeaways so that they can learn from them too," she says.
New role model Hari Nef — an actress and writer — agrees, telling Teen Vogue, "I’m also excited by the idea that a brand, which many would argue is financially obligated to sell a fantasy, is instead choosing reality as its currency, avoiding completely retouching in any capacity and inviting women into the fold who are making change on their own terms."
When asked about what it means to be a role model, Hari mentions names like Michelle Obama. As far as how she lives up to the title: "I do my best to lead with empathy and to treat the people in my world with empathy and with equity in the way that I want to be treated. In partnering with them, Aerie has allowed me to do that."
To partner with Aerie — a global fashion brand that has dedicated itself to representation — is no doubt a big moment for every new role model. The power of clothing and campaign images extends further than many realize, and that's precisely why this campaign is so special.
"Clothes are the way you daily express yourself; it’s as simple as that," Iskra says. "Listen to how you feel. Don’t ever listen to other people tell you what you should or shouldn’t wear, especially if it relates to your body or body shape. Fashion is a celebration of who you are."
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Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Beanie Feldstein, Hari Nef, and Lana Condor Are Some of Aerie's Newest Role Models
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
