LA fashion week faces backlash after barring 7 Filipina models

Kiana Valenciano and Jamie Herrell allegedly experienced racism during the Los Angeles fashion week in the United States.

Kiana is the daughter of Filipino singer Gary Valenciano and Jamie won the Miss Earth 2014 pageant.

Kiana, Jamie, and seven other models were blocked from entering the show of Elie Madi and Filipino designers Resty Lagare and Rocky Gathercole, reported GMA.

Angeli Valenciano, mother of Kiana, announced on Instagram a few days ago that her daughter was booked to walk in the said show. That, however, did not happen.

LA FASHION WEEK. Madi. Lagare. Gathercole. Someone’s walking on the ramp that night. I wonder who? Can you guess ? #lafashionweek #aidsfoundation

A post shared by Angeli Pangilinan Valenciano (@angelipv) on Mar 10, 2018 at 4:00am PST

Eric Rosete, the producer of the show, said that he didn’t want Filipino models to walk on his runway show, according to makeup artists Cherry Ordoñez and Alan del Rosario.

There were also reports that an LA fashion week staff asked the Filipino models to leave.

“[It was] confusing that the designers Rocky Gathercole and Resty Lagare are Filipino and they couldn’t have Filipino models,” Kiana said in an Instagram video.

“This is just going to make us tougher. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” – my daughter Kiana on not being allowed to walk on the LA FASHION WEEK opening show. Former Miss Earth Jamie Herrell and Kiana together with 5 Filipino models (some of who had previously walked on the ramp for Fashion Week) were not being allowed to walk of the ramp for LA FASHION WEEK. “No Filipinos allowed to walk on the ramp!” We want to ask WHY? It was bad enough that you didn’t want to allow the girls but was there a need to publicly humiliate them? And there were only three designers on that 9pm slot. And two were Filipino – Rocky Gathercole and Resty Lagare. Filipino models could not walk for the Filipino designers? Thank you to Jacob Meir of For the Stars Fashion House for standing his ground and fighting for the Filipinos as the five models, Jamie and Kiana were his personal choices. ???????? Thank you to @verygathercole @coutureprince @eliemadi for standing by the Philippine models, Jamie and Kiana. @forthestarsfashionhouse @kianavee @jherrell94 @cherryssalon @victoria_belo @johnlozano10 @rajolaurel @tony33chua @manilagenesis @garyvalenciano @chuckgomez05 @pacificrimvideo @kris_p_pata @kathlynanne @sthanlee @steve_angeles_ @noreen_lanie @petergonzaga salamat. The world is getting darker. We actually ought to just choose to be kind and just. What an experience ! Thank God our daughter lives for far more than just fame and glory. #kianavalenciano #kiana #lafashionweek #spreadlove @erikrosete

A post shared by Angeli Pangilinan Valenciano (@angelipv) on Mar 14, 2018 at 3:11am PDT

Kiana and Jamie aired their sides regarding what happened through their respective social media accounts.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud to be a Filipina ??

— Kiana ? (@KianaVee) March 13, 2018

One man doesn’t define a whole nation. After the LA fashion week experience I have been receiving many messages about this issue on my social media accounts. Yes, racism is still an issue and what has happened shouldn’t have happened but, not all people are the same. I have met wonderful people of different race and colour in America (including Americans) and this one man will not taint my image of the good people I have met in this country. So for the women and men who want to make a career here please keep that hope and give yourself the chance to make your dreams come true. Filipinos are strong at heart and let’s continue to show that to the world. Let’s celebrate our differences and break away from the prejudice because life is just to freaking beautiful.? Photo By: @noeldaganta HMUA: @maxitone.the.mua Designer: @alandelrosario1231

A post shared by Jamie (Jay) Herrell (@jherrell94) on Mar 14, 2018 at 8:33am PDT

The Filipino designers, whose works were featured on the show, stood by the sentiments of the Filipino models and said that they will not tolerate such action.

“We actually don’t tolerate this kind of thing. It’s not fair to people,” Gathercole said in an interview with GMA.

Eric Rosete, the man who reportedly blocked the models, defended himself through a lengthy Facebook post.

His now-deleted Facebook statement read: