On the “A” w/Souleo
Cancer, alopecia and diversity are not usually synonymous with fashion, yet several events are integrating these topics with their celebration of all things sartorial. Hip-hop pioneer and breast cancer survivor, Roxanne Shante will serve as co-host for this Sunday’s inaugural Beauty With Pure Purpose charity fashion show to recognize women living with cancer or alopecia.
“As a survivor you feel blessed with everyday and feel like you must make a difference. I am supposed to show how appreciative I am for life. So when it comes to participating in events I am there. I do more charity work now than I have ever done in my life,” says Shante.
Shante’s commitment to using her fame in the hip-hop community to address health issues is helping her make peace with an industry that she believes mishandled her career. “I had dreams and aspirations and then went through bad stuff with record companies, lawyers and mangers. However, I can see some good in what hip-hop has allowed me to do to get the message out here. I will never love hip-hop the way I once loved it but we can be good friends.”
Dana Roberts Ross, founder of the event, hopes to successfully connect the worlds of hip-hop, fashion and health to raise greater awareness about healthcare issues. “We have to advocate for those who cannot afford medical coverage and preventive care plans. It is imperative that we reach out to each community to ensure proper representation,” she says. “Autoimmune diseases like cancer and alopecia do not discriminate. It affects people from all walks of life.”
The lack of representation on fashion runways of people from all racial backgrounds has been a controversial topic receiving media attention during New York Fashion Week. Serving as one of the most vocal advocates for more inclusion is Bethann Hardison. The legendary model and founder of The Diversity Coalition is set to meet with The Council of Fashion Designers of America to address her open letter where she listed the names of fashion houses she accuses of perpetuating racism by using a limited amount of models of color.
Dawnn Karen, founder of Fashion Psychology Success notes that the issue of diversity is significant due to the negative effect that a lack of representation can have on the mental and emotional well-being of consumers.
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