Kate Winslet Under Fire From Race Relations Campaigners  7/16/07

Pressure is mounting on actress Kate Winslet to stand down as spokes model for cosmetics giant L'Oreal after the company was found guilty of racism in a French court.

The firm was hauled before a judge last week (ends13Jul07) for only using white women to promote its Garnier shampoo in the country - and now Winslet and fellow Brit Clive Owen, who both front ad campaigns for L'Oreal, are being urged to take a moral stand by race discrimination groups in their homeland.

A spokesperson for the Commission for Racial Equality says, "We would ask those high-profile ambassadors to think carefully about whether or not they want to be associated with this organization.

"What a wonderful opportunity this could be to stand up to racism, to show that it simply has no place in today's society."

Simon Woolley of race campaign group The 1990 Trust adds, "It is shameful that those on L'Oreal's payroll keep conveniently quiet. The correct thing to do would be to at least speak out or resign."