Everyone has a voice, but finding the power to use it takes time. For the models currently dominating fashion—Bella Hadid, Ariel Nicholson, and Precious Lee, among them—the journey toward feeling empowered to express themselves has been tumultuous. As they’ve risen to prominence, many have faced sexism, misconceptions, and pushback from those who would prefer they stay quiet and look pretty. “When I first started my career, I knew I had a voice, but I had to fight for it,” says Anok Yai, who has protested discrimination in fashion and beyond. “I felt like every day was a fight, but I pushed so hard. I stood my ground in whatever I did. And I had my sense of self, and I commanded respect no matter where I went and who I talked to, [because] at the end of the day, if you know what you’re fighting for, it doesn’t matter what you’re risking.”
Multifaceted stars like Cindy Crawford, who, from the beginning of her career, asserted that she was interested in more than posing, were influential. “I grew up with an incredible woman as an example who maybe people didn’t know that she had a lot to say and was very smart, but she was, and she didn’t feel like she had to prove it,” says Kaia Gerber, the supermodel’s daughter. “I saw her, and I never thought a model was anything but that.” For September Vogue cover star Yumi Nu, speaking up is essential for ensuring rights are protected. “Models used to have the least power, which is why we heard so many of the stories that we’re hearing,” says Nu in reference to the many #MeToo scandals that have plagued fashion. “We were voiceless because we were just there to stand and look pretty.”
In 2021, sharing your truth means dealing with the internet’s opinions, and being judged solely based on follower count has become part of the job. “Before, you walked the shows, appeared in magazines, were in campaigns, and became muses,” says Soo Joo Park. “Now, it’s definitely more [about] how much of an audience you have and how much clout do you have on social media.”
Having millions of people hanging on your every post sounds nice on paper, but all that influence is irrelevant if it isn’t used for good. Gerber, who has peppered her social media feed with information on anti-gun violence rallies and voting rights initiatives, has found power in having her feed reflect what matters to her. “I realized how important it was to speak up about issues that you cared about,” she says. “Not everyone is going to agree with you ever, but that should never stop you. The [negative commenters] just made me want to find other things that I cared about and other things that I wanted to bring awareness to and fight for.”
Director: Posy Dixon
Editor: Daniel Poler
Director of photography: Kevin Hayden
Set dresser: Alice Martinelli
Hair: Adam Markarian
Makeup: Mical Klip
Associate producer: Stef D’agostini
Executive producer: Marina Cukeric
Bookings director, Vogue: Helena Suric
Bookings manager, Vogue: Morgan Senesi
Production manager: Emily Yates
Colorist: Alexia Salingaros
Source: Vogue