African-American Female Models
Tyra Banks
Tyra was born in
Los Angeles on December 4th, 1973, to a very loving and supportive family.
Despite the divorce of her parents when she was only six years old,
and the torments of her older brother Devin, Tyra's youth was happy
and trouble-free. Though it might now be hard to believe, Tyra was a
tall, skinny, and awkward adolescent. She was constantly teased by her
brother and her classmates, and often ran home crying to her mother for
comfort. Then, late in high school, everything changed for her. She filled
out her skinny frame, began to work out and finally decided to become
a model. Tyra pursued that goal with the determination that now marks
all of her activities. After being turned down by four modeling agencies,
because they thought her face wasn't photogenic, she was finally signed
by the Elite agency when she was 17. So, instead of going to Loyola Marymount
College, Tyra moved to Paris for a year and modeled for many of the big
names in fashion, including Ralph Lauren and Chanel. She then moved back
to the States and continued modeling, rocketing her way up through the ranks.
Soon Tyra began to diversify her activities, having a small part in the British
television movie, Inferno as a supermodel, and then appearing on Will Smith
's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in a recurring supporting role. Tyra's first
real movie role came in John Singleton's Higher Learning. She played Omar
Epps' track-running girlfriend and though it was a small role, critics were
impressed by the intensity she brought to the screen. She was definitely
not just another supermodel playing at being an actress -- her performance
was the real thing. She even did some distance-running training, in order
to turn in a more believable performance. When the film came out, movie
offers began to roll in, but Tyra chose not to act in just anything. Instead,
she continued her meteoric rise in the modeling ranks, appearing on the
covers of several magazines. In fact, she was the first African-American woman
ever to be featured on the covers of GQ magazine, the Victoria's Secret catalog,
and the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She made People Magazine's
"50 Most Beautiful" list not once, but twice, and even wrote a revealing
book about her life, Tyra's Beauty Inside & Out. She also had a few high-profile
relationships, first with John Singleton and then with pop singer Seal. She
is rumored to have gone out with Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Mark Messier?
Strangely enough, yes. Tyra appeared in one or two movies during this time,
but only really began to work in Hollywood last year, with a small part in
Love Stinks. Then, the year 2000 brought with it a supporting role in the
popular independent film Love & Basketball, and a starring role in the
made-for-TV Disney movie Life-Size (in which she played a doll brought to
life by a wish).
Naomi Campbell
Born in 1970, Naomi was raised in Streatham, South London, England. As a girl, she enrolled in the prestigious British art school, Italia Conti, to study classical dance. At age fifteen, a New York modeling agent spotted her in London's Convent Garden, a park near her school. From that tender age, she experienced an extraordinary rise to fame after she appeared on the cover of British Elle. She moved to Paris and continued to refine her supermodel image. Her unique mix of Jamaican and Chinese ancestry and arresting looks placed her in high demand. In 1988, she became the very first black woman to grace the covers of French Vogue, British Vogue and Time Magazine. After moving to New York in 1989, she landed the cover of American Vogue. Two years later, she appeared with Eva Herzigova in a GUESS? campaign, shot by famed fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth. EEvery major fashion magazine -- including the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue--has featured Naomi Campbell. She has walked the catwalks for all the major designers. Peter Lindbergh's book, 10 Women, Madonna's book, Sex, and the 1995 Pirelli Calendar, all feature Naomi. She co-wrote a book, Swan (a thriller about five models and their travels around the world) and has her own fashion book, titled Naomi. very major fashion magazine -- including the coveted Sports Illustrrated Swimsuit Issue--has featured Naomi Campbell. She has walked the catwalks for all the major designers. Peter Lindbergh's book, 10 Women, Madonna's book, Sex, and the 1995 Pirelli Calendar, all feature Naomi. She co-wrote a book, Swan (a thriller about five models and their travels around the world) and has her own fashion book, titled Naomi.
Iman is known for
being one of the first people to challenge and change prevailing notions
of beauty from the beginning of her career in the 1970's. The daughter
of an African diplomat, Iman was born in Somalia on July 25, 1955. She
was raised speaking 5 languages, and was a co-ed at Nairobi University
working toward her political science degree when well-known photographer
Peter Beard spotted her walking across campus. Her first modeling assignment
was for American Vogue in 1976. Iman was an instant success in the fashion
world, becoming a muse for several fashion designers including Yves St.
Laurent, Versace, Calvin Klein, and Donna Karan. During her 14 years as a
model, she also worked with many top photographers, including Helmut Newton,
Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Annie Liebovitz. In 2000, Iman successfully
launched her second beauty company, I-IMAN Makeup, which addresses the needs
of all women regardless of skintone. Known for an urban, sophisticated concept,
I-IMAN Makeup has become popular in the United States, Canada, and Great
Britain. A U.S. citizen residing in New York, Iman is married to musician/actor
David Bowie, and together they have a daughter, Alexandria Zahra, who was
born August 2000. Her daughter from a previous marriage, Zulekha, is currently
a college student in the United States. In addition to running two successful
beauty companies, Iman is actively involved in several charities, including
Mother's Voices, Action Against Hunger, The Children's Defense Fund, and
The All Children Foundation. She recently completed her first book, I AM
IMAN (Universe, 2001), an autobiographical sketchbook of her working life
that provokes questions about "the unserious business of fashion and beauty,
and its’ serious effect on identity".
Naomi Campbell
Born in 1970, Naomi was raised in Streatham, South London, England. As a girl, she enrolled in the prestigious British art school, Italia Conti, to study classical dance. At age fifteen, a New York modeling agent spotted her in London's Convent Garden, a park near her school. From that tender age, she experienced an extraordinary rise to fame after she appeared on the cover of British Elle. She moved to Paris and continued to refine her supermodel image. Her unique mix of Jamaican and Chinese ancestry and arresting looks placed her in high demand. In 1988, she became the very first black woman to grace the covers of French Vogue, British Vogue and Time Magazine. After moving to New York in 1989, she landed the cover of American Vogue. Two years later, she appeared with Eva Herzigova in a GUESS? campaign, shot by famed fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth. EEvery major fashion magazine -- including the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue--has featured Naomi Campbell. She has walked the catwalks for all the major designers. Peter Lindbergh's book, 10 Women, Madonna's book, Sex, and the 1995 Pirelli Calendar, all feature Naomi. She co-wrote a book, Swan (a thriller about five models and their travels around the world) and has her own fashion book, titled Naomi. very major fashion magazine -- including the coveted Sports Illustrrated Swimsuit Issue--has featured Naomi Campbell. She has walked the catwalks for all the major designers. Peter Lindbergh's book, 10 Women, Madonna's book, Sex, and the 1995 Pirelli Calendar, all feature Naomi. She co-wrote a book, Swan (a thriller about five models and their travels around the world) and has her own fashion book, titled Naomi.
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