Fashion, Modeling, and Beauty in Haiti: A Space of Self-Subjectivation for Young People

Sandy Larose Francky Saint-Fleur
DOI:10.46852/2249-6637.04.2023.2

Abstract:

This study seeks to explore the identity formation of models in Haiti. The goal is to demonstrate how Haitian models shape their

identity through fashion practices and how fashion can contribute to reinforcing their self-image. The study draws on theoretical

approaches around identity and the body and applies constructivism and symbolic interaction to understand the identity

construction process of the models. A qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyze the data. The research concludes

that some young people in Haiti use fashion to construct and subjectivize themselves. The study categorizes the construction of the

models’ identity into three groups: those who want to maintain the traditional essence of modeling work, those who believe the

model must manifest creativity, and those who advocate for a more relaxed fashion with less stringent body requirements.

In the fashion world, modeling refers not only to a set of practices linked to its social and economic environment, but also to the work of designers and users.
The body is a medium that enables the mannequin to stage an idea, a story, a creation, a life-story. What’s on display is a picture worthy of contemplation and admiration.