A lack of common decency and compassion toward others seems to be a big trend with current models on various social media platforms. Several people have already drawn fire for setting their photo shoots in places that are considered to be culturally insensitive. Models are drawing criticism and backlash for posing in barely-there bikinis in former vacation spots that have been ravaged by severe weather and natural disasters.
The captions associated with these images, wishing the affected people well and claiming to send them ‘good vibes’, seems to be at a disconnect with the carefree, frolicking nature of the shots. One such Instagram model, Kara del Toro is being singled out for a few shots of her in Turks and Caicos. These beautiful but poverty stricken islands were the victim of Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm that caused billions of dollars in damage.
The photos, showing her stretched out tanned and dressed in a very skimpy bikini attracted comments blasting her for posting a ‘tone-deaf’ photo, seemingly enjoying herself when all around her was destruction and sorrow. Del Toro, a native of southern Texas, asserted that this hurricane also claimed her home and her family’s property.
Del Toro claims that she has long been an advocate for the rights of those affected by natural disasters and excuses her photos by saying that when people are confronted by the horrors of extreme acts of nature, they deserve a small ‘bright spot’ which she can provide. She also encouraged her half a million followers on Instagram to donate money and time to help the families affected by this storm. However, with her actions, it just seems crass and does not sound genuine.
Another model, Lana Alexandra, has drawn fire for posting her own racy photos in Puerto Rico, a land ravaged by the recent Hurricane Maria. This storm, which left over three thousand people dead and caused over ninety one billion dollars in damages has been considered the worst in recent history. One viewer took umbrage to her photos, commenting, “Millions in the path of a hurricane with their property and lives at stake and your thought is to post this? #idiot.” Saying “Posting a photo in a bikini doesnt make you heartless person,” Alexandra was quick to defend her actions. Many people then suggested that rather than using the time for “vacation time”, she should “lend a helping hand” to those affected. Alexandra insisted the hurricane was “not that bad”.
This prompted people to call her out for being crass, insensitive and unfeeling toward the pain of others. The trend of models posting provocative photos of themselves in disaster stricken areas is nothing new, but with more and more people making their disapproval known, it is sure to not last very long.
