Yasmin Furmie on challenging ageism

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Model Yasmin Furmie sat down with The South African to chat about ageism in the fashion industry during SA Fashion Week, which took place at Melrose Arch, in Gauteng from Thursday 26 September to Saturday 28 September.

YASMIN FURMIE ON CHALLENGING AGEISM IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

SA Fashion Week screamed inclusivity and diversity. The fashion industry previously had a “type” when it came to models and these models were often young, skinny, tall and well, not your everyday woman. However, over the years this has changed as the industry has opened up to becoming more inclusive, allowing a more real representation of women to also take the runway.

One model who stands strong against ageism in the beauty industry is Yasmin Furmie. Her family moved from Johannesburg, South Africa to Sydney, Australia when she was 15. She returned to South Africa by the age of 26, where she continued her work as a social worker.

On Thursday 26 September, she took to the SA Fashion Week runway at Melrose Arch in Gauteng. Yasmin, who is 61 years old, revealed that she is not defined by her age.

“I’m very vocal about ageism in all sorts of arenas, not only just on a modelling ramp, in general, in the world. I think people look at you, when you’re older, (and think) that you have to be a particular way. I’m not and I hope a lot of other people aren’t,” she said exclusively to The South African.

“We have such a different view of the world now in terms of our health, in terms of our passions, our purpose, what we want to do. I think whatever we want to do, as people who are older than 20 something, they need to let us be,” she continued.

She went on to say that she never shies away from her age, but she will not be defined by the number.

“We can’t be invisible, we are going to be in the world just like every young person is going to be in the world. And I’m going to push for that, I am going to stay youthful. I am not scared of my age, I tell everybody how old I am. I’m never one to shy away from the number, but I never want anyone to define me by that number and place me in a box,” she added.

YASMIN FURMIE ON DIVERSITY AT SA FASHION WEEK

Speaking on the diversity in models at SA Fashion Week, Yasmin said that she thinks the fashion and beauty industry is getting there slowly, but surely.

“So I’ve been always been trying to champion diversity in relation to older models… because I think they’ve been pretty good with inclusivity, with non-binary people, people of colour for sure. There was someone who was visually challenged last year, or last season on the runway, which I think is wonderful,” she said.

“I think we getting there. We getting there slowly but surely,” she continued.

The South African also caught up with TikToker Troy Malange at SA Fashion Week. Beloved South African designer Gert-Johan Coetzee closed the first night of SA Fashion Week with his London collection on Thursday 26 September. While actress and the ex-wife of DJ Black Coffee, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa closed the last night of SA Fashion Week on Saturday 28 September, with her Essie Apparel brand.