Filipino designers walked out of a Los Angeles Fashion Week show on Tuesday after its producer allegedly banned Filipino models from walking the runway, one of the model’s manager said on Instagram yesterday.
“Former Miss Earth Jamie Herrell and Kiana [Valenciano] 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 (sic) for LA FASHION WEEK,” said Angeli Pangilinan, the mother and manager of Valenciano, a Filipino singer and social media influencer.
According to Pangilinan, they were told: “No Filipinos allowed to walk on the ramp!”
This, even though the show itself was for the works of two Filipino designers. Rocky Gathercole and Resty Lagare, whose clothes were supposed to be showcased, walked out after learning about the producer’s decision.
“We actually don’t tolerate this kind of thing, for Filipinas to be discriminated. We really backed out. It’s not fair to people, like our fellow Filipinos,” Gathercole told GMA News in English and Filipino.
Valenciano flew to the United States from Manila just to attend the event. “We moved schedules and appointments to make it to this event. One model flew from Vegas. One drove three hours from San Diego,” Pangilinan said in another Instagram post.
She and the six other Filipino models were invited to walk the runway by Jacob Meir, the founder of LA’s For the Stars Fashion House.
According to ABS-CBN News, Meir said the decision to ban Filipino models from the runway came from the show’s producer Erik Rosete, President of Art Hearts Fashion.
However, in a now-deleted post Rosete shared on Facebook this morning, he said he did not keep the models from walking the runway because they were Filipino but because Meir allegedly owes him US$100,000 for previous shows.
Rosete alleged that Meir had also been sneaking in sponsors and “collecting money on the side,” promising them placements on the show that Rosete said he had not approved.
He also said that he wouldn’t have agreed to hire the models because they do not meet a certain height requirement.
“Our Requirements are 5’9+ for girls PERIOD no matter of race, color, or anything for that matter. This is a professional Fashion Event,” Rosete said.
In his post, Rosete also took offense in the allegation that he was being racist.
“Do not ever try to pull a race card with me! I am a minority, my designers are all international minorities and the opening model of my biggest show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is Filipino and now the first ever Filipino Victorias Secret model! How dare anyone try to rain on our parade! Our event was built on inclusion,” he said.
He also apologized to Gathercole and Lagare for cutting the show.
“This was not your fault, and perhaps you can discuss with Jacob about all the money he has been collecting from organizations to put Non-Runway models in your shows! Or the scam side businesses he has created utilizing your names and our event!”
Meir, however, denied this in an interview with ABS-CBN News. He said he was the one who decided not to push through with the show. He said he can prove this through text messages he and Rosete exchanged.
“He clearly did not want any of the Filipino girls to walk in the show,” Meir said.
He also denied owing Rosete money.
“I wasn’t obligated with any money to Erik Rosete. If anything, we were invited to do the shows to help him… If I owe him $100,000, would he invite me to another show, and another show, and another show? No,” Meir said.
Coconuts Manila has reached out to Rosete, Pangilinan, and Meir’s partner Mildred Deang but has not received a reply.
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