Heads up, fashionistas. New York Fashion Week opens today. I love watching the sylph-like fashion models parade down the runways draped in clothes I’ll probably never wear. But I have to admit, for a girl who works at a nonprofit that’s trying to help end extreme poverty, sometimes fashion can feel a bit empty to me.

That’s why Fusion writer Elisa Rodriguez-Vila’s re-interpretation of ads for fashion’s most covet-worthy lines is so refreshing. She replaced models with “super women” badass Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Global Citizen favorite Malala Yousafzai.

Images via Fusion

Now, fashion is no stranger to promoting women of substance. Fashion-bible Vogue regularly profiles women like Michelle Obama, and HIllary Clinton. And the industry often gives back to worthy causes. Fashion lines do charitable collaborations all the time, like Olivia Palermo’s recent collaboration with luxury bag maker Aspinal of London on a limited edition release that benefits ADCAM, an international non-profit that supports education and microcredit for women in developing nations.

But fashion ads do seem to be one space where beauty consistently trumps accomplishments. Maybe that’s why when Celine cast the amazing author Joan Didion for its recent ad campaign, it caused a wave of awe and appreciation on the Internet. That Celine ad served as inspiration for Rodriguez-Vila’s reimagining of the fashion promotions. Like her, I’d welcome seeing more badass women in ads promoting my favorite lines.

So come on, designers. Let’s look beyond models to star in your next campaign. In case you’re at a loss, here are my suggestions.

Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and co-author of Half the Sky and A Path Appears

Shel Holtz via Flckr

Christy Turlington-Burns, model and founder of Every Mother Counts

Fortune Live Media via Flickr

Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Gates Foundation via Flickr

Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace

Aktiv I Oslo.no via Flickr

Cameron Russell, model and TED presenter

The Q Speaks via Flickr

Hillary Clinton, former United States Secretary of State, US Senator, and First Lady of the United States

Mike Mozart via Flickr

Alek Wek, model and activist

TEDxJuba via Flickr

Alyse Nelson, co-founder, president and CEO of Vital Voices Partnership

Fortune Live Media via Flickr

Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International

WITNESS:: See it. Film it. Change it. via Flickr

These women are not only beautiful on the outside, but even more so because of the incredible work they’ve done. Dressing them in beautiful clothes just makes sense. And seeing more women like this would go a long way toward helping more people see the fashion industry as something more than empty.

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Amy Freeland

Editorial

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