A Deep Dive Into Black Models

In fashion, there’s people who are household names/ fashion icons for example Naomi Campbell, but the question is, who are the people that came before her?

Dorthea Towles

Dorthea made her appearance in the modelling scene in 1922, being the first black model to do so. Her fashion background was mainly being able to work with French designers, for example, Christian Dior, Elsa Schiaparelli, & Pierre Balmain. Dorthea’s fashion had that feel of being old-fashioned but also with a flair of something. A red-riding hood kind of an outfit, with a transparent skirt, which exudes elegance.

Donyale Luna

Donyale was the first black model, to coin the term “ supermodel”, and grace a Vogue cover in 1966. Donyale was the main one to open doors for people like Naomi Campbell, and she had a lot of memorable looks in her time. A stellar green number in which she wore in Skidoo (1968), with a cut out at the back of it, showcasing her back. A dress that makes you think the party's at the back, versus the front, in reverse, and then she repeated it again, in 1967, with a backless crocheted floor-length dress, which she paired barefoot. Donyale has also been known for her signature bold makeup looks which Zendaya paid tribute to for essence magazine’s 50th anniversary cover.

Iman Mohammed Adulmajid

Iman found herself in the modelling scene, after changing paths from studying political science, where she was discovered by an American photographer. Her career really kickstarted in 1976, where she secured her first assignment for Vogue. Iman has had an impressive career over 4 decades, and worked with designers like Gianni Versace & Thierry Mugler. Iman is definitely someone who is still considered a household name in fashion, after being on two major covers in two years. Iman is someone who shows in the fashion she wears that it’s down to her roots, with golden accessories, in the sahara series by Thierry Mugler, in 1985. This look in particular, hints on intergalactic, and makes her stand out and shimmer, like a superhero character.

Monique-Antoine Orosemane

Monique was one of the first black models to arrive on haute couture catwalks when being selected as the muse of Saint Laurent. In her outfit for Yves Saint Laurent FW84, she is dressed head to toe, in a black outfit, with a slimming silhouette of the pencil skirt she’s wearing. She paired this outfit with a lot of gold jewelry and the masterpiece that ties it together is the huge bow, with butterflies, placed on the sleeves, and it’s definitely a piece that one would expect to see on a catwalk. 

There’s also been a lot of models who have been after Naomi’s time era.

Anok Yai

Yai is also similar in the aspect of being discovered by a photographer in October 2017. After that, she was seen by a lot of modelling agencies who were interested in her and ended up choosing Next Model Management, and after 4 months became the first Sudanese model to open a Prada fashion show. Yai has walked the runways for brands including Versace, Max Mara, Fendi, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton.