Swimwear brand responds to backlash after it was called out for lack of diversity

An Australian swimwear brand has responded to criticism it received on social media about its new advertising campaign.

Lahana posted a series of pictures showing women in an array of black bikinis standing by the shoreline of a beach.

The sun was rising, the women looked cool and it appeared to be just your run-of-the-mill swimwear advert.

However, people were quick to complain that the photos only featured women who were fit.

One person said: "We see enough of this representation. Show us some women with disabilities, women of colour, women with body hair, trans women, older women. Marketing this shoot as a 'real body' shoot is misleading without the appropriate research and planning to include what real bodies look like for EVERYONE."

Another added: "TF is this, WHERE is the representation? How tone deaf can you be to post this at all let alone with the caption 'real bodies'? Get it together lol this is embarrassing."

A third wrote: "Only thin caucasian women are showed up to this because the brand is marketing a certain demographic. When you pay plus size models & bipoc models to model for the company & market it to plus size & bipoc women, and hire someone BIPOC plus size on ur marketing team, then this problem won’t arise and you won’t lose $."

There were plenty of comments defending Lahana from the online abuse, however the negative ones kept coming in.

The company issued a statement on their Instagram page to address the issue.

Lahana wrote: "These are 'real bodies' / because they are bodies lived and inhabited by their powerful owners

"This was a local call out - which means these girls choose to participate. Yes we would of loved to have more shapes and skin tones, but these are the beautiful, strong girls who decided to show up and participate on the day.

"We are so grateful for them and the energy they bought to the shoot

"These girls are customers/community, they are sisters, friends, La loyal girls, they came on there own merit. They are not models, but came to model regardless.

"Please be aware that we can always do better and we are aware of this.

"This was simply about community, solidarity, about showing power in your body.

"We love and adore this shoot and can feel the power from the women. We hope you can see and feel the intention too."

In another post, the company praised the women who went out of their way to come to the photoshoot.

They said they will 'try harder' in their next community call out 'to make sure you are seen and heard'.

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

@stewartperrie