List of black fashion models
A
- Iman Abdulmajid – Somali supermodel, actress, and CEO of "Iman Cosmetics". She has been the muse for Yves St. Laurent, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Donna Karan and was honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) with the prestigious "Fashion Icon Award". She founded The Black Girls Coalition in 1988 with her agent and friend, Bethann Hardison, to recognise and promote the interests of black fashion models.[2][3]
- David Agbodji – currently ranked #4 on Models.com's Top 50 Male Models list.[4] Has modeled for Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Express, Kenneth Cole and Vivienne Westwood and appeared in editorials in GQ Style, Interview (magazine), Numero, V, Vogue Hommes and Vogue Paris.[4]
- J. Alexander – model, runway coach and America's Next Top Model judge. Walked for Jean Paul Gaultier.
- Karen Alexander – African-American fashion model and actress. Has appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue twice and on the January 1989 cover of Vogue.
- Ambre Anderson – African-American model and actress. Has appeared in national and international television commercials, dozens of print ads for national magazine publications, and thousands of national point of sale posters.
- Teyona Anderson – African American fashion model. Winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12.
- Rebecca Ayoko – Togo-born model of the 1980s and 90s, one of Yves Saint-Laurent's leading models and sometime muse. Also modeled for leading houses in Europe and the US, Geoffrey Beene, Oscar de la Renta.
B
Tyra Banks, chosen by Time in 2008 as one of the world's 100 most influential people.[5]
- Tyra Banks – first African-American to grace the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue and become a Victoria's Secret Angel. Host/creator of America's Next Top Model.
Tyson Beckford, chosen by music cable network Vh1 as "Man of the Year" in 1995.
- Tyson Beckford – top male model of the 1990s and 2000s, actor and host of Bravo's Make Me a Supermodel. Beckford was the first African-American model to sign an exclusive contract with Ralph Lauren.[6] In 1995, he was chosen as "Man of the Year" by cable television music network Vh1 and named to People's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World list.[6]
- Shari Belafonte – model of the 1980s.
- Minah Ogbenyealu Bird – Nigerian model and actress active in the UK in the 1970s. Appeared in such films as Percy's Progress, The Stud and The London Connection.
C
- Naomi Campbell – first black (British) model to grace the covers of French Vogue Paris (August 1988 issue) and Time magazine (TIME Magazine Europe 9/18/91), and the second for the cover of British Vogue (December 1987 issue).
- Dorothea Church – African American pioneering model. She was the first successful black fashion model in Paris.
D
- Yaya DaCosta – African American actress and fashion model. Runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model.
- Agbani Darego – Nigerian model and winner of Miss World competition 2001. She worked for brands such as L'Oréal cosmetics.
- Bruce Darnell – American model who modeled for Calvin Klein, Hermès, Issey Miyake and Kenzo. Former judge of Germany's Next Topmodel and Germany's Das Supertalent and coach for Switzerland's Top Model.
- Waris Dirie – Somalian born model of the 1980s. Appeared on European runways and print ads for Chanel, Revlon and L'Oreal. Played a Bond girl in The Living Daylights.
- Jourdan Dunn – British model known for walking major runways like Jean Paul Gaultier
E
- Selita Ebanks – former Victoria's Secret Angel. Has also modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.
- Danielle Evans – winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 6. Has had campaigns for CoverGirl, Sephora, and Akademiks.
F
- Tomiko Fraser – African American fashion model and actress. Best known for being the face of Maybelline as well as her role in the movie, Head Over Heels.
G
- Quiana Grant – African-American model. Appeared in the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
H
- Tanisha Harper – African-American model, actress and television host. Appeared in The Bold and the Beautiful and ABC's Ugly Betty.
- Marsha A. Hunt – African American model, singer, novelist, and actress.
I
- Chanel Iman – Korean/African-American who has modeled Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Bottega Veneta, Dsquared, Hermès, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney. The only black woman to grace the cover of the May 2007 issue of American Vogue with nine other girls as the next generation of supermodels.
J
- Beverly Johnson – first African-American to grace the covers of American Vogue (August 1974 issue) and French Elle (1975).
- Kidada Jones – African-American actress, model, and fashion designer. Appeared in Tommy Hilfiger advertisements, and dated Tupac Shakur at the time of his death.
- Toccara Jones – African-American fashion model and occasional actress and television personality. Contestant on the third season of the UPN series America's Next Top Model. She is the first black plus-size model to grace the pages of Vogue Italia.
- Grace Jones – Jamaican-American model, actress, singer and a muse to Andy Warhol.
K
- Kiara Kabukuru – American fashion model of Ugandan descent who has appeared in ads for Gucci and CoverGirl cosmetics. She also graced the cover of American Vogue in 1997.
L
Sessilee Lopez at the Barbie 50th Anniversary Collection
- Janet Langhart – African American model, television journalist and author.
- Noémie Lenoir – French biracial model of Malagasy descent who has appeared in ads for L'Oréal, Gap, and other well-known companies. Has graced the covers of many fashion magazines worldwide.
- Sessilee Lopez – black model of Dominican descent who has appeared in Vogue Italia in its famous black issue, as well as walking in the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
- Donyale Luna – American fashion model of the 1960s and early 1970s. The first black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue.
- Damaris Lewis – African American model who appeared in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues.
M
- Anais Mali – Mali was born in Toulon, France, to a mother from Chad and a Polish father. Walked for Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Derek Lam, Vivienne Westwood, Cynthia Rowley, Carolina Herrera. Joined the Angels for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011.
- Sacha M'Baye – has modeled for American Eagle, Burberry, Gap and Tommy Hilfiger.
- Eva Marcille – first African-American to win the reality show America's Next Top Model.
- Denny Méndez – former beauty queen turned model and actress who represented Italy in the 1997 Miss Universe pageant.
- Naima Mora – winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 4.
- Mounia – the Martinique native was a muse to and runway model for Yves Saint Laurent. His Porgy and Bess collection made her a celebrity. Graced 15 covers including WWD.
N
- Ajuma Nasenyana – Kenyan model who has appeared in catalogs for Issey Miyake and walked the runway for Baby Phat, Ungaro, Vivienne Westwood and the 2006 show for Victoria's Secret.
- Katoucha Niane – Senegalese-French model and outspoken activist against female circumcision.
- Munachi Nwankwo – Nigerian model and hip-hop artist. Won Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 2007.
O
- Lana Ogilvie – Canadian model seen in frequent Cover Girl ads in the 1990s.Also profiled in 1994 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
- Gail O'Neill – African American fashion model who has become a television journalist. Appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Continues to model actively as of 2009.
- Oluchi Onweagba – Nigerian model and winner of M-NET/Nokia 'Face of Africa' competition 1998. She has featured in multiple ad campaigns, including Gianfranco Ferré, Victoria's Secret, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor.
P
- Beverly Peele – first African-American to grace the cover of Mademoiselle in 1989.
- Daisi Pollard – Jamaican-American beauty queen and television personality.
R
- Georgianna Robertson – model in the 1990s.
- Shaun Ross – albino male model who was appeared in editorials for Vogue Italia and i-D and modeled for Alexander McQueen and Givenchy.
S
Arlenis Sosa, Dominican fashion model, at the Carlos Miele Spring 2009 Collection
- Bre Scullark – third runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5
- Naomi Sims – model of the late 1960s and 1970s. One of the first successful black models.
- Mecia Simone Simson – winner of Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 5.
- Mercedes Scelba-Shorte – runner-up of America's Next Top Model in Cycle 2
- Moruna Sheppard – Trinidadian-American fashion model, spokesmodel, actress, writer and humanitarian. Known for her Golden-Ratio measurements. New York Atlanta Munich Exclusive in Munich Germany.
- Joan Smalls – Puerto Rican fashion model.
- B. Smith – Pennsylvania native began her career with the Ebony Fashion Show and went on to grace the cover of Mademoiselle (magazine) in July 1976. Currently a successful entrepreneur.
- Toukie Smith – African American actress and model. Sister of late fashion designer Willi Smith and former long-term partner of actor Robert De Niro.
- Arlenis Sosa – Dominican model who has graced the cover of Time Magazine, and has walked many runways, like Derek Lam and Diane von Furstenberg.
- Saleisha Stowers – winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9.
- Kimora Lee Simmons – is an American fashion model, author, and former president and Creative Director for Phat Fashions.
T
- Peggy Dillard-Toone – second African-American to grace the cover of Vogue Magazine August,1978. Alum of Pratt Institute.[7]
V
- Louise Vyent – Dutch born model popular in the 1990s. Featured in the 1990 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.Featured on multiple Glamour magazine covers.
W
- Yasmin Warsame – Somali-Canadian model and judge of cycle 2 of the Canadian reality television series, Canada's Next Top Model. She has featured in the 2008 "Vogue Italia" All Black Issue and has walked the runway for high-profile fashion designers such as Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Alexander McQueen.
- Eugena Washington – African-American model signed to Elite Model Management in Los Angeles and Chicago, Photogenics in Los Angeles, Irene Marie Models in Miami (Billed as Eugenia Washington) and Stellar Model Management. Second runner-up on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7.
- Veronica Webb – first Black model to sign with a major cosmetics company (Revlon).
- Alek Wek – Sudanese model who, aside from gracing magazine covers and being featured in ad campaigns, has walked the runway for high-profile fashion designers such as John Galliano, Donna Karan, and Calvin Klein.
- Jessica White – African American model and occasional actress.
- Roshumba Williams – African American model, actress, television host, and correspondent and reality show judge. First became internationally famous for her appearance in the prestigious Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Y
- Kara Young – California born model popular in the 1990s. Landed the coveted Vogue cover on three occasions.
References
- ^ Victoria Sherrow (2001), For Appearance' Sake: The Historical Encyclopedia of Good Looks, Beauty, and Grooming, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 198, ISBN 9781573562041, "Naomi Campbell (b. 1970), who began modeling during the 1980s, is considered to be the first black "supermodel.""
- ^ The Model Stimulus Plan, 2010, p. 184, ISBN 9781449015961
- ^ Barbara Summers (2001), Black and beautiful: how women of color changed the fashion industry, Amistad Press, ISBN 9780060958121, "the Black Girls Coalition — founded by Bethann Hardison and Iman"
- ^ a b "David Agbodji". models.com. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture, 2010, p. 91, "Time magazine named Banks as one of the world's 100 Most Influential People."
- ^ a b "Tyson". people.com. 8 May 1995. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ "South Carolina African American Calendar // Honorees". Scafricanamerican.com. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
