Reflecting upon her time at Contrast Magazine, she recalls the tokenism that, until recently, plagued the industry. “The main thing would be what the [Black] models were experiencing in fashion,” she says. “If they were going to sign someone, it was going to be someone with lighter skin, straighter hair. You wouldn’t see one person with cornrows. Ever.”

When profiling models, Rowe felt obligated to not only acknowledge their talent and beauty, but would attempt to pull something instructive or inspirational. “Division comes from ignorance,” she says. Her upliftment of Black models and talents provided a glimpse into their person and a deeper understanding on a human level for readers, in hopes to bridge the gaps of representation.

Rowe understood that younger generations required a new method of instruction in order to further representation. “Young people don’t like to be hit over the head with messages,” says Rowe. Recognizing this, she continued her social upliftment and fight for representation through Honey Jam, a non-profit multicultural artist development programme, which she founded in 1995. “I’m trying to spread that diversity, equity and inclusion to as big an audience as possible,” says Rowe.

“I’d like people to expect the unexpected, to overcome preconceived bias,” she says. “So I would go out of my way to find artists performing in genres that they weren’t expected in, such as a Black artist performing opera or country music.” Through Honey Jam, Rowe advocates for performers to be seen in a broader context and approaches larger organizations, pushing them to make diversity and inclusion a priority.

Through Honey Jam, Rowe advocates for performers to be seen in a broader context, and approaches larger organizations, pushing them to make diversity and inclusion a priority.

Rowe notes that after 2020 and the death of George Floyd, the industry shifted as well as the receptiveness of larger organizations to diversify their talent and themselves. “The fight for social justice did not begin in 2020 … but Covid allowed for an unprecedented amount of down time for reflection. It was a perfect storm,” she says. “It took over our consciousness. People were stunned and felt the need to do something.”

She understands better than most the difference between ticking a box versus real efforts to further diversity and inclusion. “The ones who blew me off for years, I have to question if that sudden responsiveness was genuine,” Rowe states. While 2020 reignited the fight for social justice, Rowe notes that more must be done to continuously make diversity a priority rather than, “I did this in February for Black history month so I’m good for the rest of the year,” she says.