The December issue of American Vogue has a fashion story on a "new crop" of Asian models -- never mind that most of them have been around for several years -- who are, quoth the lady mag, "redefining traditional concepts of beauty."
Which raises the question, "traditional concepts of beauty" where, exactly? Because there are plenty of places in the world where, traditionally speaking, Asian women have long been considered beautiful. Like in, um, Asia, for example? Even in Western countries, Asian beauty, for lack of a more specific term, isn't a new concept (although, granted, sometimes, it's a creepy, fetishy one.)
And since that covers 3/4 of the world's population, what's left?
Vogue magazine, that's what.
Let's think about this for a second: American Vogue has never featured an Asian model on its cover in its 40-plus years of featuring models on its cover (unless you count Blasian Naomi Campbell). American Vogue also has a dismal track record when it comes to featuring non-white models in general. So, by featuring a "new" crop of Asian models in its pages, American Vogue is "redefining traditional concepts of beauty" held by... American Vogue.
That's enough self-referentiality to make an Asian chick's fauxhawk spin right off of her suddenly-pretty head.
[via Daily Intel]