Wellington, Mar 16 (ANI): An Indian-Australian model has spoken out against a modelling agency in Australia after it told her that she had "limited" chances as she is not Caucasian.
Kema Rajandran, who lived and worked as a model in the United Kingdom for two years, had emailed a short biography and photos to Chadwick Models in Perth, and she was "very disheartened" by the reply she got.
"We think you are very photogenic and would be suitable for our Casting Division," Stuff.co.nz quoted the email from the academy coordinator as reading.
"Please note however that as you are of non-caucasian heritage that your work opportunities in Perth would be extrremely limited," it stated.
Rajandran said given the "extremely multicultural society of Australia", she was shocked at the response, and hoped that by her speaking out about it, the practice of culling models based solely on their appearance would change.
Chadwick's Perth manager Tanya Muia said she was "gob-smacked" that the agency could be labelled as racially discriminating against Rajandran, and that they were simply relaying her chances of finding work in a tight Perth modelling market.
"This is just ridiculous. I don't see that this is race related," Muia said.
"If we don't feel that she's going to secure work in the Perth market... then we tell her about it.
"We have the liberty to give an honest opinion," she stated.
Muia said Chadwicks, along with other modelling agencies, provided models based on industry demand and that as such had no control over the "looks" chosen for various campaigns.
"We are not discriminating in any way. We represent every culture out there," she explained.
"There is a bigger picture here other than just that one line, and yes, we will be changing it. But we have worded it (the standard email response) that way for 10 years. We've never had a complaint," she added.
Rajandran said she was extremely disappointed to learn that her Indian appearance would hinder her employment opportunity, especially given the extensive work on offer in the UK to models of "all ethnicities and cultures".
She said she had previously expressed her thoughts on Australia's predominantly Caucasian-based image, and until she saw this email, thought she might have been over-exaggerating it in her mind.
"This is not right, and I want to bring it to the attention of Australians. I'm sure they are going to try and justify it ... but it is not an acceptable comment," she added. (ANI)
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