Aussie Model Calls Out ‘Australia’s Next Top Model’ Stylists For Making Her Do Own Cornrows

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Model Duckie Thot is an Aussie export that is currently killin’ it rn in the US and was a previous Australia’s Next Top Model contestant *cough – rightful winner of cycle 8 – cough*. In an Instagram post that’s garnered over 18 thousand likes, Thot has spoken out about her unequal treatment on the reality show by the series’ stylists.

The South-Sudanese model was referring to the consistent trouble she has had in the past wearing her natural hair on shoots. She recalled her experiences on ANTM, with stylists that were not prepared to style her afro-textured hair, forcing the model to do her own hair for a weekly shoot. As the model revealed:

“I’ve never really had a good experience with my natural hair and modelling in Australia before. I remember on top model on one of the episodes I had to cornrow my own hair. I was extremely upset and embarrassed that they “didn’t know how” to cornrow my natural hair when at the end of the day that’s their job.

I remember shooting this Dinosaur Design campaign just before coming out here to the states. They called my agent at the time and asked if I was comfortable to shoot a campaign with my natural hair. She already knew what I was thinking but told me I needed to compromise sometimes. I won't lie, I was extremely hesitant. I've never really had a good experience with my natural hair and modelling in Australia before. I remember on top model on one of the episodes I had to cornrow my own hair. I was extremely upset and embarrassed that they "didn't know how" to cornrow my natural hair when at the end of the day that's their job. I sat in front of the mirror silently crying before my shoot doing my own hair, cameras rolling while all the other girls had hairstylists, shit scared I was going to get eliminated because a few "hairstylists" didn't know how to do their job. It's not fun being bullied for something you can't control and to have a top model woman of colour who I thought encouraged acceptance and self love call me out for rocking my natural hair, isn't cool at all. Throw all the shade you want, but you played yourself with your cute little remark.

A post shared by Duckie Thot (@duckieofficial) on

“I sat in front of the mirror silently crying before my shoot doing my own hair, cameras rolling while all the other girls had hairstylists, shit scared I was going to get eliminated because a few “hairstylists” didn’t know how to do their job,” she posted.

This is a far from the first time a black model has had to call out a stylist or make up artist for being ill-prepared or unfamiliar with working with the skin tones and hair types of women of colour. From not bringing darker shades of foundation, to being unprepared to work with weaves and cornrows.

The young model is among a whole host of black models that are fed up with not being treated equally to the dominate Caucasian aesthetic in the industry.

Hopefully Thot’s confession will do some good. Her post has already been getting major props online, and the model was recently featured in Teen Vogue.