List of black fashion models explained
The following is a list of black fashion models.
A
B
- 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.[1] 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.[1]
- Shari Belafonte – model of the 1980s.
- Yasmin Benoit – English model and asexual activist specializing in alternative fashion and lingerie
- Samile Bermannelli – Brazilian model who has walked for Ralph Lauren, Valentino, and Fendi.
- 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.
- Maria Borges – Angolan model who booked 17 shows during her first season since being discovered back in 2012. Borges has since walked for Dior and Givenchy, even referring to the fashion house's Creative Director Riccardo Tisci as her "godfather". In 2013, 2014, and 2015 she walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
- Cindy Bruna – French model of Congolese and Italian descent, who has appeared on the runways of DVF, Ralph Lauren, and Donna Karan. Bruna is the third woman of color to ever appear in a Prada print campaign.
C
- Naomi Campbell – British model of Jamaican descent who was the first 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).
- Chase Carter – Bahamian model of biracial heritage, she has been on the cover of Maxim.
- Dorothea Church – African-American pioneering model. She was the first successful black fashion model in Paris.
- Pat Cleveland – African-American model of the 1970s who was the muse of Halston, Yves Saint Laurent and Stephen Burrows.
D
- Yaya DaCosta – African-American actress and fashion model. Runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model.
- Elibeidy Dani – Dominican model who has walked for Prada and Burberry.
- 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.
- Ebonee Davis – African-American model who was a finalist on America’s Next Top Model. She has appeared in Vogue and ads for Calvin Klein, L’Oréal, Pantene, and MAC Cosmetics.
- Naki Depass – Jamaican model who debuted as an exclusive at Burberry, Prada, Céline, and also walked for Givenchy.[2]
- Ajak Deng – Sudanese model who walked recent runways in Paris, booking high-end designer shows, including Lanvin, Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier.
- Ataui Deng – Sudanese model who walked the runways for John Galliano and Christian Dior.
- Nadège du Bospertus – French model who was the muse of Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani in the early '90s.
- Khoudia Diop – Senegalese model who calls herself the "Melanin Goddess" because of her dark skin tone.[3]
- Waris Dirie – Somalian model active in the late '80s and early '90s who is also an activist against female circumcision.She appeared in the Pirelli Calendar with a sixteen year old Naomi Campbell. She wrote a book "The Desert flower", adapted in a movie, her role played by Liya Kebede.
- Jourdan Dunn – British model of Jamaican descent, who has walked for major runways like Prada and Chanel and landing a solo cover of British Vogue – first black model in 12 years to do so. Worked for brands such as Versace, Burberry, Beats Electronics and Maybelline.
E
F
G
H
I
- Chanel Iman – Korean/African-American who has modeled Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Bottega Veneta, DSquared², 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). However, Johnson is the second black model to grace the cover of a Vogue publication after Donyale Luna whose face was partially hidden on cover of British Vogue due to her race.[5]
- 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.
- Sabina Karlsson – Afro-Swedish plus size model. She has modeled for Michael Kors, Armani, and Maybelline.
- Liya Kebede – Ethiopian-born model, maternal health advocate, clothing designer and actress. She has appeared on the cover of Vogue three times.
- Jayne Kennedy – American television personality, actress, model, corporate spokeswoman, producer, writer, public speaker, philanthropist, beauty pageant titleholder and sports broadcaster. Kennedy won a 1982 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for her performance as Julie Winters in the 1981 film Body and Soul co-starring alongside her then–husband Leon Isaac Kennedy.
- Kenya Kinski-Jones – American model and daughter of musician Quincy Jones and German model-actress Nastassja Kinski. She has modeled for Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, Chanel, and appeared in Vogue.
- Katiti Kironde – first African-American covergirl of a women's magazine in the Glamour August 1968 college issue.
- Subah Koj – Australian model of Sudanese descent. She walked in the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
L
- Janet Langhart – African-American model, television journalist and author.
- Shakara Ledard – model and actress, originally from The Bahamas. She has posed for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as well as for Maxim Magazine.
- Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta – Swedish twin models of Gambian, Senegalese, and Sápmi descent. They have modeled for Calvin Klein, H&M, Max Factor, and appeared in Vogue.
- Noémie Lenoir – French 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 and was a Victoria's Secret Angel.
- Sessilee Lopez – Dominican 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 a Vogue publication British Vogue.
- Damaris Lewis – African-American model who appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
- Genesis Lynea – Bermudian-born actress and model, ambassador for Adidas
- Leomie Anderson – English model who is a Victoria's Secret Angel
M
N
O
P
R
- Lais Ribeiro – Brazilian model. In 2009, she started modelling locally and shortly afterwards walked the major international catwalks for such designers as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Marc Jacobs. In 2015, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel.
- Georgianna Robertson – Jamaican model in the 1990s. Cover of Vogue Paris, 1996, and appeared in editorials for ELLE, Town & Country. Walked for designers in the 1990s including Carolina Herrera, Jean Paul Gaultier, Ralph Lauren, Thierry Mugler, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture (Spring / Summer 2001, Spring / Summer 2002)
- Shaun Ross – albino male model, who has appeared in editorials for Vogue Italia and i-D and modeled for Alexander McQueen and Givenchy.
S
- Jasmine Sanders – German-American model and media personality who has worked for Nike Inc., Roberto Cavalli, Reebok, Victoria’s Secret, Ralph Lauren and appeared in Vogue and Vogue Italia.
- Lyndsey Scott – American fashion model who in 2009 was the first model of color to score an exclusive with Calvin Klein.[6]
- Bre Scullark – third runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5
- Fatima Siad - The Somalian-American started her model career in American Next Top Model Cycle 10, she didn't win but she worked immediately in the industry. She landed a Ralph Lauren campaign, she worked with Etam in Paris, she made the Paris Haute Couture shows each years, catalogs, ads.
- Kimora Lee Simmons – American fashion model, author, and former president and Creative Director for Phat Fashions. She is of African-American and Japanese heritage.
- Naomi Sims – model of the late 1960s and 1970s. The first African-American model to appear on the cover of Ladies Home Journal and Life Magazine in the 1960s. She later went on to write beauty books and created her own line of cosmetics and wigs.
- Mercedes Scelba-Shorte – runner-up of America's Next Top Model in Cycle 2
- 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 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, such as Derek Lam and Diane von Fürstenberg.
- Saleisha Stowers – winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9.
T
V
W
- Eugena Washington – African-American model who was 2017’s Playboy Playmate of the Year. Second runner-up on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7.
- Veronica Webb – first Black model who signed 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.
- Ari Westphal – Brazilian model of African, Italian, and German descent. She has modeled for Chanel, Sephora, and Tom Ford.
- Jessica White – African-American Maybelline Cosmetics model and occasional actress.
- Jeneil Williams – Jamaican model who has modeled for Nike, L'Oréal, Balenciaga, and appeared in Vogue Italia.
- 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.
- Slick Woods – African-American model who has appeared in Vogue, the Pirelli calendar, and the cover of Elle U.K.
Y
- Anok Yai – African-American model of Sudanese descent; the first African-American model to open for Prada
- Kara Young – California-born model popular in the 1990s. Landed the coveted Vogue cover on three occasions.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Tyson . 8 May 1995 . people.com . 29 January 2013.
- Janelle Okwodu, "The 15 New Faces That Ruled Fall 2016", Vogue, March 11, 2016.
- News: Alexis . Bennett . Meet the 19-Year-Old 'Melanin Goddess' Instagram Is Obsessed With . . 28 October 2016 . 15 April 2017.
- Web site: Winnie Harlow. Models. May 2014. models.com. Models. June 23, 2015.
- Keli Goff, "The First Black Supermodel, Whom History Forgot", The Cut, July 10, 2013.
- James Lim,"Lyndsey Scott: First Black Model to Score Calvin Exclusive", The Cut, February 20, 2009.
