Kanye West chose diverse black models for Yeezy Season 4. Although the designer received some heat for tweeting, "multiracial women only" during the open casting call, he later told Vogue, "How do you word the idea that you want all variations of black? How do you word that exactly?" The show ended up being racially and ethnically diverse, even featuring ladies of the moment Sofia Richie and Teyana Taylor.
Zac Posen featured 25 black models of his 33 on the Fall '16 runway
The inspiration behind his collection was, after all, Ugandan Princess Elizabeth of Toro. He even emphasized how important it was to represent black models in the industry by toting a bag that read, "Black Models Matter."
Anniesa Hasibuan became the first designer to present a NYFW collection with hijabs. The Muslim designer was inspired by her hometown Jakarta and sent models down the runway wearing hijabs with trousers, suits, and gowns. At the end of her show, she received a standing ovation and said, "This is my dream come true."
