A Magazine Used a White Model to Steal Beyoncé’s Style

At Super Bowl 50 in February, Beyoncé slayed the halftime show in an outfit that appeared to be an homage to the Black Panthers, the African-American revolutionary party that emerged in the 1960s. Bey’s squad of all-black backup dancers seemed to mirror the look of the militant group as it performed her anthem “Formation,” and many people saw her entire show as a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement, according to the Daily Mail. Suffice it to say, Beyoncé intended to make a political statement about the myriad struggles of African-Americans throughout recent history.

That’s why people are now calling out the Australian magazine Good Weekend for its decision to lead with a white model in a fashion spread inspired by Beyoncé’s Super Bowl attire. In a full-page image, the model wears a military-inspired jacket and trousers. The opposite page offers all the inspirations for the spread, including a photo of Beyoncé’s iconic look.

Social media user Maxine Beneba Clarke flagged her disapproval by posting a photo of it to Twitter with the open-ended caption, “Good Weekend’s Beyonce black-panther-inspired fashion spread, complete with an Anglo model in a red, white & blue colonial-style jacket…”. Others reacted in disbelief, posting, “What even?,” “Oh dear,” and “hmmmmm no.”

The original release of the “Formation” video was not without controversy: Some inferred an anti-police message, which Beyoncé addressed in a Rolling Stone interview, in scenes that showed white officers confronting a black teenager and graffiti reading “Stop shooting us.” Good Weekend is probably guilty of an ignorant, offensive gaffe more than an intentional statement.

The same can’t be said for another offender from Down Under. In May, during Australian Fashion Week, Aussie fashion label Misha walked a team of models down the runway to the tune of “Formation.” According to the Guardian, “users howled with outrage that none of the models shown were black; indeed, most appeared to be white.” Writer Monica Tan pointed out that the song carried way too strong a message of black empowerment to be taken lightly on a fashion runway.

Australian choreographer Amrita Hepi reacted to Misha’s stunt by writing on Facebook, “If you want to take from all of the subcultures and exoticism of minorities how’s about you at least put them in your shows? — don’t tell me you tried. TRY HARDER.”

In her Guardian piece, Tan noted that Beyoncé herself has been guilty of cultural appropriation, citing the Native American headdress she wore in a collaboration with Coldplay, “Hymn for the Weekend.” But she also indicated that it is possible for fashion to use “respectful cultural appreciation — as opposed to appropriation.” She urged designers and stylists to ask such questions as, “What culture does this style reference, and what is my relation to that culture? Why have I chosen to reference this culture? Have I done so aware of its political and historical context? How will my work impact the community I am referencing?”

Tan also made the point that Australia has its own rich ethnic history, and that with a minimum of thought, its fashion industry is capable of showing a little cultural sensitivity. “When you’re as multicultural as we are and carry the trauma of colonialism, there should be aspiration to something greater,” she wrote.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration, delivered fresh to your feed, every day.