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Diandra Forrest

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Diandra Forrest
Forrest modeling for Chromat Autumn/Winter 2018
Born (1989-10-22) October 22, 1989 (age 35)[2]
The Bronx, New York, US
Known forModel, actress, albinism activist
Children2
Modeling information
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1]
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorGreen

Diandra Forrest (born October 22, 1989) is an African American fashion model and actress with albinism. She grew up in the Bronx, New York City, in a Black community where she was bullied for her white skin, until she moved to a private school to avoid it. After graduation, Forrest became the first female model with albinism signed to a major modelling agency,[3][4] and the first to be featured in a national campaign for a major brand.[5][6] She has starred in several short films and appeared in multiple widely released music videos. Forrest uses her prominence to advocate for people with albinism around the world.

Early life

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Forrest was born on October 22, 1989,[7][2] to African American parents, and grew up in the Black community of the Bronx, the northernmost borough of New York City.[8] She was one of five children, of whom only she and her younger brother have albinism.[4] She lacks melanin, giving her white skin, blonde hair, and green eyes, with the classical African full lips and wide nose.[2][9][10] She also has nystagmus, a condition where her eyes move back and forth.[9]

Forrest realized she had albinism at the age of nine.[4] She remembers being regularly made fun of for her pale skin and hair, by children and even adults, to the point of tears.[8][11] She changed schools many times until eventually enrolling in the New York Institute for Special Education, where her sixth-grade teacher, also an African American woman with albinism, encouraged her.[12] With that added confidence, by the age of fourteen, she decided to become a model.[2] She says she spoke with a modeling coach when she was fourteen or fifteen, but he told her that she would never be a model because she was too odd.[13] Forrest graduated NYISE in 2007, and wrote in the class yearbook that in ten years she saw herself "walking the runway of a Victoria's Secret fashion show".[7]

Modeling

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Forrest walks for Chromat Autumn/Winter 2019

Forrest was noticed by fashion photographer Shameer Khan while walking down 34th Street in New York, and signed with Elite Model Management a month later in February 2009.[14][15][16] She says her coach was wrong, the agency signed her immediately, and clients were interested.[13][17] It was the first time a female model with albinism had signed with a major agency.[18] In the summer of 2009, she left the United States for her first time, to model at Paris Fashion Week.[12] In May 2015, Forrest was the face of designer Mimi Plange's fall collection.[19] That September, she shared the cover of Ebony magazine.[20][3] In May 2016, she told her story in advertising for Burt's Bees.[21][22]

In October 2017, Forrest became one of five atypical models to be featured in the Wet n Wild cosmetics "Breaking Beauty" campaign[23] (along with Asian-American musician Michelle Zauner, Olympic weightlifter Briana Marquez, amputee activist Mama Cax, and Dutch transgender model Valentijn de Hingh).[24] This made her the first model with albinism to front a national campaign for a major beauty brand.[6][5] Forrest said that besides the groundbreaking aspect, she valued that the cosmetics brand made shades that worked on her skin.[13]

Albinism advocacy

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Forrest interviewed in 2015

Several years into her career, Forrest was shocked to learn about the persecution of people with albinism, far greater than the teasing and bullying she faced growing up.[8][25] Throughout the world, the occurrence of albinism is close to 1 in 20,000 people, but in Tanzania, where the proportion is closer to 1 in 1400, and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and East Africa, people with albinism are at risk of being killed or dismembered, their bodies used as magical charms.[26]

In October 2012, Forrest attended Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg, South Africa, partly to try to change the way albino people are viewed on that continent.[8][9] In 2015 she was working with Assisting Children in Need, a group which opened a safe house for children with albinism in Tanzania.[3][27][9]

In the summer of 2016, Forrest appeared in and directed a short film for the "Beyond My Skin" campaign, meant to celebrate albinism.[13] It premiered on International Albinism Awareness Day, and profits went to the Salif Keïta Global Foundation for people with albinism.[28][29] In May 2019, following the murder of a child with albinism, Forrest flew to Mali to dance a benefit concert with Salif Keïta, a Malian musician who also has albinism.[30] Coumba Makalou, Keïta's wife, who heads the foundation, said Forrest was an inspiration to many girls with albinism, and seeing her could be life changing.[30] In 2019, Forrest appeared as a spokesperson for NYDG ColorFull, a partnership between the New York Dermatology Foundation and the United Nations to support people with albinism.[31][32]

Acting

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In 2013, Forrest starred in the short film Sololoque by Ruben Sznajderman, which aired at the ASVOFF festival.[33][34] The following year, Forrest starred in Afronauts, a speculative science fiction short film by Nuotama Bodomo about a 1960s Zambian woman attempting to beat the US and USSR to the moon.[35][36][37] In 2022, Forrest starred in War of Colors, a short film by Emir Kumova about discrimination faced by African Americans with albinism.[38][39]

In August 2010, Forrest appeared in the music video for Kanye West's song "Power", ending with her swinging at the singer with a sword.[40][41] In December 2013, Forrest appeared in two music videos for Beyoncé: in "Pretty Hurts" she plays a beauty contest competitor,[42][43] and in "XO" she rides along on a roller coaster.[44] In 2016, Forrest danced in the music video for "Pleasure Toy" by Bilal.[45]

Children

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Forrest with son at Chromat Spring/Summer 2020

Forrest has a daughter, born 2015,[7] and a son, born 2017.[46] In February 2016, Forrest was the target of controversy when she walked the runway at a Gypsy Sport fashion show at New York Fashion Week.[47] She was holding her seven-week-old daughter close to her chest in a blanket, and some (including The Daily Beast)[48] assumed she was breastfeeding in public,[49] although she was not.[47][49][50] A year later, Forrest posted a photo of her actually breastfeeding her daughter during a fashion shoot, and called back to that moment.[51]

References

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  1. ^ "Diandra Forrest – Model". Models.com. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fashion model with albinism | Diandra Forrest | TEDxFultonStreet". YouTube. TEDx Talks. November 12, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Bobo, Marielle; Daniels, Kasey. "Made You Look: A powerful new crop of Black models". Ebony (September 2015): cover, 94–95, 100.
  4. ^ a b c "Meet Diandra Forrest – People with albinism, by United Nations Human Rights". albinism.ohchr.org. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. March 20, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Fuller, Gillian (October 10, 2017). "Here's Why Wet n Wild's Inclusive New "Breaking Beauty" Campaign Is Such a Big Deal". Allure. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Nussbaum, Rachel (October 11, 2017). "This Is the First Model With Albinism to Be the Face of a Major Beauty Brand". Glamour. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Diandra Forrest". New York Institute for Special Education. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Forbes, Kate (October 26, 2012). "Albino models setting the trend for Africa". BBC News. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Huntington, Jacki (April 17, 2016). "What It's Like To Be Born With Albinism". Refinery29. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  10. ^ Kitchens, Simone (March 9, 2017). "Model Diandra Forrest Opens Up About Her Albinism and Being Comfortable in Her Own Skin". Glamour. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  11. ^ Mulrow, Jennifer; Forrest, Diandra (November 14, 2019). "I Was Bullied For My Albinism — Now It's My Biggest Source Of Confidence". Refinery29. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Albinism: Caught Between Dark and Light". ABC News. October 1, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d Underwood, Khalea (August 15, 2017). "This Is The First Model With Albinism To Front A Major Beauty Campaign". Refinery29. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Maher, Sarah (February 16, 2009). "Fashion's New Faces". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  15. ^ K, Aïssata (April 30, 2009). "TMOTW: Diandra Forrest: "A precious diamond"". Timodelle Magazine (in French). Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  16. ^ "elite clips: INTRODUCING.........DIANDRA". Elite Blog. Elite Model Management. February 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  17. ^ Safronova, Valeriya; Nikas, Joanna; Osipova, Natalia V. (September 5, 2017). "What It's Truly Like to Be a Fashion Model". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  18. ^ Devash, Meirav (January 12, 2016). "10 Alt Models Who Redefine Beauty". Allure. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  19. ^ "Model showcase's the Mimi Plange fall collection for 2015 | Pulse Nigeria". Pulse Nigeria. May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  20. ^ Obiuwevbi, Jennifer (August 24, 2015). "Ebony Magazine is Having A Black Model Moment! Features Winnie Harlow, Diandra Forrest & More in Sept. Issue". BellaNaija. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  21. ^ Jardine, Alexandra (May 12, 2016). "Burt's Bees Celebrates Unique Beauties in Uplifting Campaign". Advertising Age. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  22. ^ Gianatasio, David (May 13, 2016). "Burt's Bees Tells Two Young Women's Remarkable Stories of Unique Beauty". AdWeek. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  23. ^ Armstrong, Harriet (October 11, 2017). "Albino model breaks beauty barriers". Nine.com.au. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  24. ^ Demopoulos, Alaina (October 12, 2017). "Wet n Wild Is Making History With an Albino Model in Its New Campaign". Popsugar. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  25. ^ Stroud, Court (June 19, 2019). "Stand Out Strong: An Interview With Model And Albinism Activist Diandra Forrest". Forbes. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  26. ^ Ager, Susan. "For Them, Being Pale Can Bring Scorn, Threats, and Worse". National Geographic. No. June 2017. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  27. ^ "Tanzania". Assisting Children in Need. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  28. ^ "International Albinism Awareness Day Campaign". Ben Cawiezell. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  29. ^ ""Beyond My Skin" Campaign Short Film – Beauty For Freedom". Beauty for Freedom. June 13, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "People with Albinism Are Finding Their Voice". Open Society Foundations. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  31. ^ Oakes, Karl (December 12, 2019). "Albinism awareness goes global in dermatologists' nonprofit work | MDedge". MDEdge. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  32. ^ "NYDG ColorFull". NYDG Foundation. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  33. ^ ""SOLOLOQUE" BY RUBEN SZNAJDERMAN". A Shaded View on Fashion. September 23, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  34. ^ Sznajderman, Ruban (June 5, 2012). "Sololoque (for Bijules)". Vimeo. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  35. ^ Shields, Derica (March 14, 2013). "Frances Bodomo's 'Afronauts': What Became of the Zambian Space Program? | OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  36. ^ "'Afronauts' – Ragtag Group Of Zambian Exiles Try To Beat America To The Moon (Fundraising) – Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment. April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  37. ^ Sumba, Eric Otieno (December 1, 2020). "Afronauts are forever | The enduring cultural legacy of the 'Zambia Space Program'". GRIOT. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  38. ^ Davis, Linsey (November 10, 2022). "Video 'War of Colors' documents fighting discrimination against albinism". ABC News. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  39. ^ "WAR OF COLORS | Omeleto". YouTube. November 12, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  40. ^ "FRESH FACES: Meet Diandra Forrest, Albino Supermodel". Hello Beautiful – Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Hair Care for Black Women. August 6, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  41. ^ West, Kanye (August 5, 2010). "Kanye West – POWER". YouTube. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  42. ^ Yotka, Steff (December 13, 2013). "Beyonce New Album". Nylon. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  43. ^ Beyoncé (April 24, 2014). "Beyoncé – Pretty Hurts (Video)". YouTube. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  44. ^ Newbold, Alice (August 30, 2013). "Beyonce enlists Jourdan Dunn to star in new video". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  45. ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (November 26, 2016). "Bilal Drops 'Pleasure Toy' Video Featuring Big K.R.I.T." XXL. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  46. ^ Forrest, Diandra (December 1, 2018). "Happy birthday baby boy". Facebook. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  47. ^ a b Spedding, Emma (February 22, 2016). "Model Diandra Forrest hits back at those shocked she was breastfeeding on the New York Fashion Week catwalk". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  48. ^ Teeman, Tim; McNearney, Allison; Crocker, Lizzie (February 21, 2016). "The 10 Things We Learned at Fashion Week". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  49. ^ a b Brown, Maressa (February 23, 2016). "The Truth About That "Breastfeeding" Runway Model". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  50. ^ Mazziotta, Juliet (February 24, 2016). "Model Says She Wasn't Breastfeeding While Walking at NYFW". People. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  51. ^ Greenfield, Beth (March 1, 2017). "Model With Albinism Breastfeeds Daughter in Stunning New Fashion Shoot". Yahoo Life. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
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