17 Models of Color Who Should Walk in NYFW (but Probably Won't)

We can count the number of A-list models who don't fit the European beauty mold on two hands (Naomi Campbell, Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, Liu Wen, and Alek Wek are just a few who come to mind). A recent study of Fall 2015 runways proves our point — 80 percent of the models were white. That means only one in five ladies on the runway was of Asian, Indian, Hispanic, or African descent.

It's clear fashion's biggest event has a long way to come as far as diversity, but there are plenty of eligible catwalkers out there. Teen Vogue recently featured three black beauties on the August 2015 cover, and Instagram account @moremodelsofcolor is taking the diversity initiative to another level by highlighting only models of color (both familiar and unknown faces).

Each day the feed features new gorgeous women who could easily strut down a runway or pose in an ad campaign. So now the designers know exactly where to go when they're looking to cast someone outside the typical blond-haired-blue-eyed mold. Keep reading to see the up-and-coming class of diverse models.