World top black model female
In , she became an Estee Lauder ambassador. Known for her natural hair, she inspires young Black girls. Precious Lee is a plus-size model that has broken barriers in the fashion world.
Biography of black models in hollywood
Seasoned in the fashion industry, Precious Lee has been the first Black plus-size model to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue. Grace Jones , born in Jamaica in , is an iconic model, singer, and actress known for her exotic, androgynous beauty and bold style. She launched her modeling career in New York, later moving to Paris to work with top brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Kenzo, and appeared on the covers of Elle and Vogue.
In , she began her music career, releasing 11 albums that spanned genres from post-punk to reggae, influencing stars like Rihanna and Solange. Jones has also starred in over 25 films, TV shows, and documentaries, solidifying her cultural impact. Liya Kebede , the Ethiopian-born model, designer, and activist, made history with an entire issue of Vogue US dedicated to her.
Black models shine: Here are some of the models who parlayed their runway and print success into other forms of gainful creativity.
Kebede also founded Lemlem, a brand supporting Ethiopian textile crafts and local artisans. Noemie Lenoir is a French Black model and actress. Lenoir started her career when she was spotted by a Ford Modeling Agency agent in She was only 17 at the time. Lenoir has appeared in over ten films, including titles like Rush Hour 3 and The Transporter Refuelled.
Beyond modeling, Harlow advocates for vitiligo awareness, sharing her story through YouTube and TEDx, and has appeared in music videos for artists like Eminem and Calvin Harris. Pat Cleveland became one of the first Black models to gain international acclaim in the s. Discovered by a Vogue editor as a teenager, she became a muse for Halston and Stephen Burrows, icons of the fashion scene.
Her twirls on the runway were a dance of defiance against racial barriers. Even today, her influence reverberates, with her daughter Anna Cleveland following in her footsteps. Jasmine Tookes is known as one of the sexiest Black models. Beyond modeling, she worked with Josephine Skriver on an activewear brand called JoJa.
Hijabi model Halima Aden is another beauty who broke barriers. Born in a Kenyan refugee camp to Somali parents, her journey to the catwalk is a tale of resilience that defies the odds. In , she became the first model to wear a burkini in the Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue. Born in London to an English mother and Ghanaian father, Adwoa Aboah has made her mark in fashion and activism.
She was spotted by Tom Ford, the artistic director of the house of Gucci. She is one of the highest paid models in the world. She has been on the cover of Vogue many times. Alek Wek. With his shaved hair and beauty, Alek Wek is a black Sudanese top model of the 90s. At the age of 14, she fled southern Sudan with her family to escape a civil war and settle in the UK.
She was spotted on the street by a modeling agent.
Black models by state
Wek quickly stood out from the other models and walked the runway for the biggest names in fashion. In , she was named model of the year by MTV. In , she also became the first black model to be featured on the cover of Elle US. On the strength of her success, she has defied European beauty codes, which often judge her with stereotypes that are too exotic or wild.
Chanel Iman. Chanel Iman is a top model of the new generation. She has posed for the greatest photographers and has been on the cover of many magazines. She participates in many fashion shows in the United States and Europe. Joan Small. I was impressed that so many Black girls were working in editorial, and you'd never seen that before [ It was the first time that so many of you were working, and how would you be a unit if someone like me didn't bring you together?
Born in , Patricia Cleveland was raised by her mother in New York. In she was invited to take part in the touring Ebony 'Fashion Fair', spearheaded by Eunice Johnson, the pioneering Black businesswoman and co-founder of Ebony magazine. Cleveland modelled in the Battle of Versailles fashion show and was a favourite catwalk model for a number of designers including Yves Saint Laurent , Halston and Thierry Mugler.
There's this open space in front of you, and when the spotlight is on you feel like you're flying to the sun.
Born in , Johnson starting modelling in whilst on summer break from university. She quickly landed an assignment for Glamour magazine and began to work with them regularly. In she became the first Black woman to secure the cover of American Vogue and was later the first Black woman to appear on the cover of French Elle Over the course of her impressive career, she appeared on more than magazine covers.
Born in in the Trust Territory of Somaliland, Iman was 'discovered' by American photographer Peter Beard whilst studying political science at the University of Nairobi, Kenya in She quickly changed course and moved to the US to pursue a modelling career, securing her first assignment for Vogue in Iman soon rose to prominence in the industry and became a muse for designers including Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler and Yves Saint Laurent.
In , after almost 20 years in the industry, Iman established her own makeup line Iman Cosmetics which produced a range of shades for all skin tones.
Biography of black models in history
Best known as a muse to Yves Saint Laurent, Mounia was first 'discovered' by French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy after being transferred from her job at the airport in Martinique, to Orly Airport in Paris. Enticed by the world of fashion, she soon appeared on the runway, walking first for Givenchy and then others, including Karl Lagerfeld and Thierry Mugler.
She is remembered as one of the first Black models to walk for Chanel and a favourite of Yves Saint Laurent who she modelled for throughout the s and s. Gail O'Neill fell into the world of modelling in when she was approached at John F. Working as a marketing representative for Xerox at the time, little did O'Neill know that this encounter would lead to her being on the cover of British Vogue just one year later.
Hailing from Detroit, Veronica Webb is best known as the first African American model to land a major cosmetics contract.
Biography of black models
Believing that her time as a model would be limited, she retired from the business after a few years and later developed a line of wigs as well as a cosmetics brand, authored books and worked as a Right On! Amid the accomplishments, Sims struggled with bipolar disorder. The epitome of a trailblazer, she died in Catherine Deneuve stood up and started clapping.
In , Mounia had another historic moment with her appearance as a feathered bride launching the YSL fragrance Paris at the end of the autumn-winter show. Having at one point established a boutique in her native land, Mounia went on to release several albums as a recording artist and is an acclaimed painter, continuing to produce work with an international reach.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Tyra Banks epitomizes the transformation from model to mogul, signing to Elite in as a teen.
Having become the hit of the Paris runway world with designers like Chanel, Christian Dior and Claude Montana, she landed major beauty campaigns and graced the cover of publications like Sports Illustrated the first Black model to do so , Elle and Essence. The story of how the Cotonou, Benin-born Djimon Hounsou came to fame is well told.
Struggling early in his career, the future actor had no place to live in Paris. He met a photographer who referred him to designer Thierry Mugler, and thus a successful modeling career began. Upon moving to the U. He continued to choose parts that garnered major attention, including co-starring with Russell Crowe in Gladiator. Webb explored acting a bit with roles in the Spike Lee films Jungle Fever and Malcolm X and established a career as a writer.
She has contributed to other books as well, including Heart Soul Detroit: Conversations on the Motor City , reflecting on her native town.