We love to see our brothers and sisters breaking the standards. Here are some beautiful black queens as proof to Black is Beautiful.
1. Tyra Banks
You might recall that Tyra Banks made history in 1997 when she became the first Black model to appear on her own Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue cover. But did you know that she also made history by becoming the first African-American woman to appear on the covers of GQ and the Victoria's Secret Catalogue in the same year? She made a comeback in 2019 as the face of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, flaunting a larger body and stunning appearance.
Since her days as a model, Tyra has gained recognition for creating and presenting 'America's Next Top Model,' which has spawned a number of globally popular spin-offs. The presenter of Dancing With the Stars was formerly an angel for Victoria's Secret.
2. Alek Wek
South Sudanese model Alek Wek is well renowned for challenging beauty norms in the fashion world. Alek, who started her modeling career at age 18, stood out for her black skin, African features, and short hair. Many look up to Wek because, as a black woman, she exemplifies a particular kind of beauty that does not adhere to Caucasian norms.
Wek was the first African model to feature on the cover of ELLE when she did so in November 1997. Wek has been cited by Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o as an early inspiration. The model has walked for well-known companies including Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino on worldwide catwalks.
3. Jourdan Dunn
In 2008, British model Jourdan Dunn became the first black model to walk the Prada runway in over ten years. Dunn signed on to serve as the face of the Maybelline New York cosmetics collection in 2014. She also made history by becoming the first black woman model to appear on a solo Vogue UK cover in more than 12 years for the February 2015 issue of the publication. Additionally, she frequently participated in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
In addition, the English model has been outspoken about prejudice in the modeling business. This includes makeup professionals who refuse to do models' makeup because of their darker skin tones and casting directors who only cast one black lady every show.
4. Slick Woods
One of the most well-known black models in the business right now is Simone Thompson, often known as Slick Woods. The 25-year-old model from Los Angeles, California, draws attention with her distinctive attractiveness. Her distinctive style, which makes her stand out from the crowd, only serves to highlight her attractive natural features. Her prominent tattoos and shaven head exude confidence.
Woods has had a distinguished career. After being spotted by Ash Stymest, she shot to fame and went on to become the face of important products and brands including Yeezy, Moschino, Calvin Klein, and Rihanna's Fenty Beauty. The African-American model has been highlighted in prestigious fashion publications, including Dazed and Glamour, as well as the American, Italian, and Japanese editions of Vogue. Slick has also dabbled in the world of film, making her debut in the 2020 movie Goldie and receiving plaudits for her portrayal.
5. Adut Akech
An Australian model with South Sudanese ancestry is named Adut Akech Bior. Adut made her runway debut in a modest neighborhood fashion show organized by her aunt, and she swiftly gained notoriety in the business. She participated in the Saint Laurent show at Paris Fashion Week after participating in Melbourne Fashion Week, making her significant runway debut at the brand's S/S 17 show. She continued working on four ads and ended two performances for the company.
She has also collaborated on other campaigns with other well-known companies like Valentino, Zara, Marc Jacobs, and Moschino. Adut has walked the runways for brands like Versace, Givenchy, Prada, and Tom Ford. She dominates the runway at all fashion weeks, including New York, Paris, and Milan.
The "Model of the Year" honor was given to Adut Akech in 2019 at the British Fashion Awards in London. Her first significant beauty contract was made in 2021 when she agreed to serve as an ambassador for Estee Lauder. The South Sudanese Australian model, who serves as an inspiration to many young Black girls, is also well-known for wearing her hair natural.
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