Italian Vogue features black models in July Issue

Alarmed by the lack of ethnic models on the catwalk, Vogue Italia will feature black models almost exclusively in the July issue of what's often called the most influential fashion magazine in the world.

"This idea came about as a reaction to the models of today," Franca Sozzani, Vogue Italia's editor, said in a phone interview. I go to a fashion show and every girl looks he same blond and blue-eyed and they all walk the same and look the same.

"I thought we needed to break away from this type of thing," she said. "There are so many beautiful black women not being used."

The July issue comes out next week anm will feature a wide range of women of all ages and will include actors, models and singers such as Naomi Campbell, Tina Turner, Iman and Jody Watley.

Bristish designer, Vivenne Westwood went so far as to demand a quota system so that fashion magazine would be forced to use more black models.