I remain puzzled and frustrated that although we live in such a diverse and multi cultural society here in the UK, it is still rare to open a commercial magazine such as 'Glamour', 'More' 'Red' 'Cosmo' and see features using models of colour, likewise on magazine covers, or even page 3 of the Sun newspaper? The above are some of the changes that I 'd like to see.

I stumbled upon a FHM type online lads mag called 'Candy' which features many beautiful women of colour, yet I have never seen it advertised or in a newsagent when it is just as good as the likes of Nuts and FHM and I wonder why this is? It could give them a run for their money I'm sure!

Commercial casting calls on talent sites that I am signed to often require only 'caucasian models' or where models of colour are required, it's related to 'booty shaking honeys needed for RnB video' castings or 'ethnic extras required for gun crime film' and it could be so easy to become disheartened and pigeon holed if this is not the route an aspiring model / actress of colour wants to take.

I feel as though I have two challenges in my pursuit to achieve my modelling ambitions - the colour of my skin and my height! As a petite model I am not hell bent on making it as a catwalk model but I am determined to show that models of colour too are attractive, able to appeal to a wide target audience and can sell and endorse a variety of fashion / commercial products and publications.

A large proportion of the fashion industry seems to want to remain oblivious to the fact that it should be about a models look and abilities rather than her skin tone when assigning models to campaigns etc. I nearly spluttered my tea when I saw Jameila fronting the Pretty Polly campaign - the first black model to do so. You go girl! There are still so many 'firsts' for models of colour to achieve within the industry and I hope to be a successful model who achieves at least one, if not more !!

Nicola 9/5/2011