Instagram is doing its part by ensuring all aspects of fashion are equally showcased. The photo-sharing app launched #RunwayForAll on Monday, an initiative designed to encourage diversity and inclusivity in the fashion world, particularly for models. Every day this week, IG promises to showcase the stories of models who are “redefining industry standards making sure there’s room on the #RunwayForAll.”
First up, Mama Cax (@caxmee) . She’s a blogger and freelance model based in New York.
“The majority of humans do not look like the mainstream idea of beauty,” she says. “One of the greatest barriers is not belonging. Through modeling I hope to show that beauty does not always wear a size zero and beauty does not always walk on two limbs.”
“#RunwayForAll means any teenager feels represented when they open a magazine or watch a fashion show,” says Mama Cax (@caxmee). Mama grew up in Haiti, lives in New York City and never aspired to be a model — “not only because there were very few dark models on magazine covers but also because I grew up with very little knowledge of the fashion industry,” she says. “Eight years ago, after getting my leg amputated, the idea of being a model was even more far-fetched.” Today, Mama is modeling and doing other things that she was told there was no audience for, like sharing tips for traveling as a black female amputee. “The majority of humans do not look like the mainstream idea of beauty,” she says. “One of the greatest barriers is not belonging. Through modeling I hope to show that beauty does not always wear a size zero and beauty does not always walk on two limbs.” Every day this week, we’ll be sharing the story of a model who is redefining industry standards and making sure there’s room on the #RunwayForAll. Photo of @caxmee by @simonhuemaen
A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on May 30, 2016 at 8:00am PDT
Tuesday’s post featured Shaun Ross (@shaundross) , the first male albino professional model who is openly gay.
“I remember when I first entered the industry all I saw were models that looked the same,” he says.
“#RunwayForAll is a world where everyone is treated the same,” says Shaun Ross (@shaundross). When he started modeling nearly a decade ago, Shaun was the only male model of color with albinism. “I remember when I first entered the industry all I saw were models that looked the same,” he says. “Now here we are almost 10 years later, and I see the choice I’ve made has helped the industry to see beauty in many ways, such as casting models and rising icons like @winnieharlow, @jilly_peppa and more to help lead the fight with me to diversity.” When he started, Shaun was one of a few openly gay models in the industry. “Agents always told male models to be masculine, but that was never the case for me. I never wanted to hide my sexuality,” he says. “I’d rather be myself.” Photo by @shaundross
A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on May 31, 2016 at 8:02am PDT
Follow the #RunwayForAll hashtag to see more models challenging mainstream beauty standards with their own kickass definitions.
What do you think about Instagram’s newest campaign? Let us know in the comments. 
