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[Dr Naomi Campbell]

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Bev' still looks amazing

These women invented what we now call "supermodels." For our Fall Fashion issue we profiled ten iconic models who changed the entire landscape of fashion. These ten women — Tyra Banks, Beverly Johnson, Veronica Webb, Kimora Lee Simmons, Beverly Peele, Debra Shaw, Karen Alexander, Pat Cleveland, Lana Ogilvie, and Kara Young — were some of the first Black models to appear on magazine covers, star in major ad campaigns, and open major runway shows. Of course, none of this was easy. Veronica Webb shares, "When I first came into the industry, Black girls really didn't get coverage because they couldn't sell magazines.... There were photographers who were very loyal to me, and they would have to tell me sometimes point-blank, 'I tried to book you, but they don't want any Black people in their ads.'" These models absolutely dominated (and continue to dominate) an industry with a well-documented history of racism, and for that we must continue to give these women their flowers. Their impact was, is, will be ever-lasting. This portfolio celebrates these enduring models who have been representing — and defining — American style since the beginning.

[The Only BLACK Kalmyks]

GODverly

[ssw4919]

Real queens.

[Dr Naomi Campbell]

Kimora still looks the same