Today, black women enjoy the glamor and allure of the modelling industry, reflecting a significant shift in its standards. However, this transformation was hard-fought for by those who paved the way and can tell a tale of discrimination, disappointment, resilience, and determination to break down the barriers. They redefined beauty standards, proving they are equal, if not better, than everybody else. These are the black models that revolutionized the industry.
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Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is one of the most visible black models today. She began her career in the 1980s after a scout spotted her in London. However, Campbell didn’t get gigs easily because of prejudice, but things changed when she began appearing on big magazine covers. Over the years, Campbell has appeared in several magazines, including the British Vogue, French Vogue, Russian Vogue and Time Magazine. The model also works with brands like Prada, Chanel, Burberry, and Versace.
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Grace Jones
Jamaican native Grace Jones began her modelling career in New York before and later went to Paris where she ascended to the top of the modelling world. She appeared on the covers of Elle, Guys Bourdin, Hans Feurer and Vogue. Her androgynous style makes her stand out from the crowd. Away from the runway, Jones ventured into music, producing tracks like “I Need a Man” and “Slave to the Rhythm” and also went into acting, starring in films like A View to a Kill, and Boomerang.
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Iman
Iman’s story of being a runway model and a global icon is like something out of a movie. She fled Somalia with her family and relocated to Kenya. During her studies at the University of Nairobi, a photographer spotted her and paid her for photos. He then convinced her to relocate to New York, where her career blossomed. Iman stood up for herself by demanding equal treatment to her white counterparts. After her modelling career, she went into acting and is now an entrepreneur.
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Naomi Sims
Naomi Sims is another black model you should know. She was born in Mississippi and overcame great odds to be a supermodel. She moved to New York to pursue her ambitions. However, Sims did not find it easy because of prejudice and because of that, missed out on opportunities.
Her work with Gosta Peterson appeared on the cover of The New York Times Fashion Magazine, opened doors for her. After that, she collaborated with Wilhelmina Cooper, which followed an ad campaign before she became the first black woman on the cover of Ladies Home Journal. Several international jobs followed, which made her an icon in the industry.
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She diversified her portfolio and opened a cosmetic business, wrote books and worked as a columnist for Right On! magazine. Sims passed away in 2009 from breast cancer.
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Tyra Banks
We all watched Tyra Banks on the Tyra Banks Show and other modelling shows that aired in the early 2000s. She was one of the highly sought-after models in the 1990s, gracing runways and magazine covers in Europe. She was the first black model to appear in Sports Illustrated.
Banks diversified her skillset and went into acting. Soon after, she was working behind the scenes and executive-produced America’s Next Top Model. In 2005, one of her biggest shows, the Tyra Banks Show premiered in 2005 and aired for several seasons around the world.
These are the black models who opened the doors for black women in the industry. It’s amazing how they kept going despite the obstacles facing them. All of them gained global recognition for their work and today, many women in the entertainment industry credit and appreciate their presence for their impact.
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