Leomie Anderson: “I Hated Runway Pictures Knowing I Was The Only Black Girl”

It’s 2017, and those in the public eye need more than good looks and a great aesthetic to capture people’s attention. From Adwoa Aboah speaking out on addiction and mental health, to Hari Nef fighting for trans rights, the models we admire today stand for something, and use their platforms to encourage change. Leomie Anderson is one such role model.

The 24-year-old Londoner has an impressive resume: She began her modeling career with Premier back in 2011, starring on The Model Agency; she’s been front and center at Yeezy Season One and Two; has walked for everyone from Fenty x Puma and Vivienne Westwood to Jeremy Scott; and, of course, is a Victoria’s Secret model. And though her past work is a testament of her dedication to the industry, recently, Anderson caught our attention with her collective, LAPP.

Started as a blog in 2012, Anderson’s developed LAPP into a platform that discusses everything from racism in the industry to empowering women in the workplace. Since its conception, it’s evolved into a fashion and feminist destination, with her first clothing collection tackling the issue of consent via slogan T-shirts. A self-described “safe space on the internet for women to express their views and perspectives, free of judgement,” Refinery29 caught up with Anderson to chat body shaming in the industry, the way the media treated Kim Kardashian post-armed robbery, and her work styling the Nike Beautiful x Powerful collection.

Can you explain how LAPP The Brand came about?
“I wrote about consent and the pressures young girls are under on my personal blog and it went viral. I realized how much influence I could have and how powerful my voice could be. When I had the opportunity to speak at a girls school I asked them who they would turn to for advice – those who didn’t have an older sister or family member felt that they had nowhere to go to hear a female perspective. I felt inspired to use my voice and influence for good; that’s how LAPP really began.”

Why did you want the brand to be both a fashion and feminist platform, and how do you think the two interconnect?
“I see fashion as a universal language that can be used to convey all types of messages; look at Vivienne Westwood using her designs to discuss climate change. I love fashion and have always enjoyed designing, so I wanted to bring together all of my loves into one place. My first collection was the ‘Consent Collection,’ and it featured phrases inspired by the girls I spoke to at the school – really, they were to let them know that it’s okay to say no. Then there’s the infamous ‘This Pussy Grabs Back’ hoodie that Rihanna wore to the Women’s March in …