Kim Kardashian's 'Vogue' India cover faces backlash for whitewashing
Kim Kardashian has graced the cover of Vogue for the seventh time — but she may not be feeling quite so lucky when she sees the response.
The reality star unveiled one of the two covers she shot for the March issue of Vogue India. The consensus is that the images, which have been praised by the likes of Chrissy Teigen and Busy Philipps, are beautiful. Still, many are disappointed that the magazine chose an American celebrity rather than a South Asian model.
“She’s obviously beautiful … but wonder why they didn’t use an Indian for Vogue India?” asked one commenter.
Others accused the magazine of “whitewashing” South Asian culture. Vogue India faced similar backlash when Kardashian’s younger sister, Kendall Jenner, appeared on the cover of its May 2017 issue. The magazine defended Jenner’s casting in a statement.
A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Feb 26, 2018 at 7:35pm PST
“In the last 10 years, Vogue India has had only 12 international covers, including Kendall Jenner in 2017,” it said. “Therefore, statistically, 90% of our covers are Indian! And we are proud of that. India has given the world so many beautiful faces to admire. After all, we are Vogue, an international brand, and we want to give the love back by featuring some of the best international celebrities on our covers. Occasionally!”
A post shared by VOGUE India (@vogueindia) on Feb 26, 2018 at 7:00pm PST
I can’t believe @VOGUEIndia featured Kim Kardashian on their cover as if we don’t see her featured on a different magazine every day. India’s vogue should embrace and feature their own south Asian women instead of choosing someone from pop culture
— fari (@fariiihaa) February 27, 2018
I have nothing against Kim Kardashian but @VOGUEIndia is really doing itself a disservice by continually neglecting to portrait brown women in their “magazine”— you’re perpetuating a detrimental cycle of underrepresentation. Stop white washing your own damn culture.
— Aditi Prasad (@P_diti) February 27, 2018
so many pretty Indian models out there and Vogue India somehow chooses kendall jenner and kim kardashian for their covers. How hard is it to have Indian women represent Indian culture.
— n (@nxvyaa) February 27, 2018
Fuck Vogue India tbh. You guys put Kendall Jenner and now Kim Kardashian on the cover. Couldn’t they get any brown women for the damn cover? You guys piss me the fuck off @VOGUEIndia
— tanz (@tanzhabs) February 27, 2018
We have so many GORGEOUS Indian women who could be on the cover of @VOGUEIndia but you put Kim Kardashian on there. In 2018. Newp
— Sowmya Krishnamurthy (@SowmyaK) February 27, 2018
First Kendall, now Kim for Vogue India? huh we don't need them, we've got enough talented brown models who deserve to be on the cover rather than the Kardashians
— NUPUR // IA BC EXAM // (@1D_Styles_Payno) February 27, 2018
One critic also pointed out Kardashian’s saying in a 2012 Keeping Up With the Kardashians episode that she found Indian food “disgusting.” She later apologized for the remark.
How have they got Kim Kardashian on India Vogue wearing a lengha but she said she finds Indian food disgusting
— ifrah (@THECHRlSEVANS) February 27, 2018
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