"I'm really not that weird. I'm a combination of a lot of different things. Maybe it's just easier to make me look weird than another model who is specifically Caucasian"
About this Quote
In this quote, Devon Aoki, a prominent model and actress, looks into the subtleties of identity and perception within the fashion industry and society at large. Aoki recommends that her originality is often incorrect or simplified as "weirdness" due to the fact that her identity does not fit neatly into the standard molds that the market, and certainly society, often anticipates.
The very first sentence, "I'm really not that strange", indicates Aoki's awareness of how she is perceived by others-- an understanding that deviates from her self-perception. This can be seen as a commentary on the tendency to label what is different as "strange" instead of simply "varied" or "unique". It brings into focus the wider issue of how quickly society tends to judge and categorize based on surface-level qualities.
In the next part, "I'm a mix of a great deal of various things", Aoki encapsulates the intricacy of her identity, reflecting a crossway of numerous cultural, ethnic, and possibly individual influences that shape who she is. This talks to the multiplicity inherent in private identity, recommending that everybody is a mix of different factors, which can consist of race, culture, individual experiences, and more.
The last part of the quote, "Maybe it's simply much easier to make me look strange than another design who is particularly Caucasian", highlights a critical commentary on racial and ethnic representation in fashion. Aoki indicates that her mixed-race background (she is of Japanese and German-English descent) makes her more prone to being viewed as "other" or non-traditional. This reflects more comprehensive problems in the fashion industry where there is a primary requirement of appeal typically anchored in Caucasian ideals. By using "odd" as a descriptor, there is an implication that variance from these norms is often exoticized or marginalized instead of popular.
In general, Aoki's declaration advises a reconsideration of how variety is viewed and suggests a require a more inclusive understanding of charm and identity that acknowledges and values intricacy instead of simplifying it to fit narrow prejudgments.