Fashion has always been more than fabric stitched together. It is culture. It is power. It is a mirror reflecting who society values—and who it ignores. For decades, that mirror rarely reflected Black beauty. But history tells a different story when we look at the courageous women and men who refused to be invisible.
From the 1950s Paris runways to the glossy covers of Vogue, these groundbreaking Black models did more than pose. They disrupted systems. They forced the fashion industry to see us. They redefined what beauty meant to the world.
At AMPS Magazine, we honor these pioneers not just as models—but as cultural architects of the “Black Is Beautiful” movement.
Dorothea Towles – Paris Before the World Was Ready
Long before diversity became a corporate buzzword, Dorothea Towles was walking into elite Parisian fashion houses in the 1950s with grace and courage. Born in Texas and raised in Los Angeles, Towles grew up during segregation—a time when opportunities for Black women were painfully limited.
Her childhood was rooted in ambition. She excelled academically and later studied at UCLA, but it was her move to Paris that changed everything. While America shut doors, Paris opened them. Towles became one of the first successful Black high-fashion models abroad, working with legendary designers including Christian Dior.
Her presence in Paris couture houses quietly challenged European fashion’s narrow standards. She proved that elegance had no racial boundary. Though she did not receive the global recognition she deserved at the time, her work laid the foundation for every Black model who followed.
Towles made a difference by showing that international fashion could—and would—embrace Black beauty before America caught up.
Donyale Luna – The First Supermodel
Born Peggy Ann Freeman in Detroit, Luna’s childhood was marked by imagination and reinvention. She often created elaborate stories about her background, crafting a mystique that matched her striking, otherworldly look.
In 1966, she made history as the first Black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue. This moment was revolutionary. It was the height of the Civil Rights Movement. To see a dark-skinned Black woman on such a prestigious platform challenged centuries of exclusion.
Discovered in Detroit and propelled into the European fashion scene, Luna quickly became a muse for photographers and designers. She possessed a haunting beauty—long limbs, dramatic eyes, avant-garde presence—that made her unforgettable.
But her journey was not easy. America was not yet ready to embrace her. She found more acceptance overseas than at home.
Luna made a difference by becoming the first Black supermodel in an industry that never intended to create one. Her legacy is proof that being first often means walking alone—but walking boldly.
Naomi Sims – Beauty and Business
Naomi Sims’ childhood in Mississippi and later Pittsburgh was defined by resilience. After her parents separated, she moved through foster care and hardship. Yet she carried herself with quiet confidence and determination.
In the late 1960s, when agencies refused to sign her because of her race, Sims took matters into her own hands. She approached photographers directly, building her own portfolio. That initiative led to groundbreaking covers including Ladies’ Home Journal and Life magazine.
Sims wasn’t just modeling clothes—she was modeling independence. She later became a successful entrepreneur, launching a wig and haircare line specifically designed for Black women.
Her difference? Ownership. Naomi Sims didn’t wait for acceptance; she created opportunity. She shifted the narrative from tokenism to empowerment.
Beverly Johnson – The American Vogue Breakthrough
When Beverly Johnson appeared on the cover of American Vogue in 1974, it was not just a fashion moment—it was a cultural earthquake.
Raised in Buffalo, New York, Johnson was a strong student and trained as a lawyer before modeling entered her life. She originally submitted photos to modeling agencies without expectations of fame. But her elegance, poise, and intelligence stood out.
Her Vogue cover marked the first time an African-American woman appeared on the magazine’s U.S. edition. That image shifted consumer behavior and corporate thinking. Designers and advertisers realized that Black beauty sold magazines and products.
Johnson made a difference by breaking America’s most visible fashion barrier. She forced the industry to acknowledge Black purchasing power and representation.
Her success opened doors that had been bolted shut for generations.
Iman – Global Grace and Inclusive Beauty
Born in Somalia to a diplomat father and gynecologist mother, Iman Abdulmajid’s childhood was cosmopolitan and education-centered. She spoke multiple languages and studied political science before modeling found her.
Discovered by photographer Peter Beard while attending university in Kenya, Iman’s entry into fashion was swift. By the late 1970s and 80s, she was a muse for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent.
Iman’s impact extended far beyond the runway. In 1994, she launched Iman Cosmetics after noticing the lack of foundation shades for darker skin tones.
Her difference? Globalizing Black beauty. She proved African features were not “alternative”—they were exquisite. And she built a brand to serve women ignored by mainstream cosmetics companies.
Iman transformed representation into economic empowerment.
Pat Cleveland – The Runway Revolutionary
Pat Cleveland grew up in Harlem, surrounded by creativity. Her mother, an artist, nurtured her flair for drama and expression. That artistic upbringing shaped her unique runway
presence.
Discovered as a teenager on a New York subway platform, Cleveland quickly became one of the first Black runway superstars. But it was the 1973 Battle of Versailles fashion show that cemented her legend.
On that international stage, Cleveland danced down the runway with unmatched charisma. She didn’t just model garments—she performed them.
Her difference? Energy and visibility. Pat Cleveland helped prove that Black models could dominate high fashion stages with personality and power. She helped shift runway culture forever.
Naomi Campbell – The Supermodel Era
Born in London to a Jamaican mother, Naomi Campbell was discovered at age 15. Her childhood in South London exposed her to dance and performance arts, building discipline and stage presence.
By the late 1980s and 1990s, Campbell became one of the most recognizable supermodels in the world. She was the first Black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue and one of the iconic “Big Six” supermodels.
Campbell made a difference not simply by being present—but by demanding equality. She publicly called out designers who refused to hire Black models.
Her legacy lies in activism within glamour. She used her platform to insist that diversity was not optional—it was necessary.
Tyson Beckford – Redefining Black Masculinity
Raised in the Bronx after being born in Jamaica, Tyson Beckford endured bullying as a child
because of his looks. Ironically, those same features later made him a global icon.
Discovered in the early 1990s, Beckford became the face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo line, making him one of the most successful male supermodels in history.
He made a difference by redefining mainstream images of Black masculinity. At a time when media often portrayed Black men through narrow stereotypes, Beckford embodied sophistication, strength, and high-fashion elegance.
He expanded opportunity for male models of color and shifted advertising imagery worldwide.
Alek Wek – Redefining Beauty Itself
Born in what is now South Sudan, Alek Wek experienced civil war before relocating to London as a refugee. Her childhood was marked by resilience and survival.
Discovered in 1995, Wek’s dark skin and shaved head challenged every conventional Western beauty standard. Instead of conforming, she stood boldly in her authenticity.
Her presence in major campaigns and magazines signaled a turning point. She helped dismantle colorism in high fashion.
Wek once shared that seeing herself celebrated in fashion helped dark-skinned girls feel seen. That is impact beyond modeling—that is cultural healing.
The Collective Difference
Together, these pioneers shifted fashion from exclusion to evolution.
They:
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Forced magazines to diversify covers
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Expanded beauty standards beyond Eurocentric ideals
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Created business empires serving Black consumers
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Challenged tokenism
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Inspired generations of models like Jourdan Dunn, Adut Akech, and beyond
Their childhoods were often marked by resilience—segregation, displacement, rejection, or bullying. Yet each transformed adversity into artistry.
They entered modeling in unconventional ways: discovered on subways, approached by photographers, submitting photos independently, or being scouted abroad. None had a blueprint. They created it.
Why Their Legacy Matters
At AMPS Magazine, we understand that fashion is not superficial. It shapes self-esteem. It influences media. It impacts economics.
When a Black child sees someone who looks like them on a global stage, it reshapes possibility. These models did not simply wear couture—they wore courage.
Because of them, diversity is now a measurable industry priority. Because of them, brands must answer to inclusion. Because of them, “Black Is Beautiful” is not a slogan—it is a global standard.
Their legacy reminds us that representation is revolutionary.
And fashion, when inclusive, becomes freedom.
