Beverly Johnson (born Oct 13, 1952) is a famous American model, actress, in addition to businesswoman. Backed past times Eileen Ford at the powerful Ford Models, Johnson made history when she rose to fame equally the foremost dark model to appear on the embrace of American Vogue inwards August 1974.
Beverly Johnson, supermodel in addition to the foremost dark model to appear on the embrace of American Vogue inwards August 1974
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 yr later, she became the foremost dark adult woman to appear on the embrace of the French edition of Elle. Beverly scored thousands of editorial pages inwards hundreds of magazines in addition to hundreds of promotion campaigns. And she walked the runways for the biggest fashion houses inwards the trouble organisation on both sides of the Atlantic.

Young Beverly Johnson
According the famous fashion lensman Francesco Scavullo “Beverly Johnson is 1 of the most beautiful women I’ve had the privilege of photographing.” It was Scavullo who immortalized the model with a history-making embrace inwards August 1974: It was Johnson’s foremost for the magazine—and, to a greater extent than to the point, the foremost fourth dimension a dark adult woman had ever taken that prized seat on American Vogue. “I didn’t know it would move thence profound,” she subsequently said. “I only wanted to move on it, because that’s where you lot had to move to move a top model. I didn’t realize the significance in addition to alter nosotros were embarking on—black women beingness accepted. Afterwards I knew.”

August 1974 Portrait of Beverly Johnson inwards wool-angora cardigan past times Kasper in addition to Bulgari diamond loop earrings. It was this photograph that ushered Beverly equally a foremost dark adult woman to grace the embrace of Vogue. Image past times Francesco Scavullo Conde Nast Archive
It must move emphasized hither that the foremost dark supermodel inwards the basis was Donyale Luna, a Detroit immature adult woman who stunned the fashion basis to became the foremost dark model to grace the embrace of UK Vogue inwards March 1, 1966 great the color barrier that offered a window of chance for Beverly Johnson to emerge.
Over her career Beverly Johnson graced over 500 periodical covers, including fifteen Glamour, Cosmopolitan, in addition to French Elle.
1974 NYC, USA Model Beverly Johnson wearing a sheer ribbed pullover with depression cervix in addition to sashed waist past times Ross-Zeldin, a tweed knit flared skirt past times Scott Barrie, in addition to belongings a apartment envelope
As 1 of the highest-paid models inwards the basis at the time, she transcended racial barriers with her operate on the runway for Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, in addition to Valentino.
She acted equally a spokeswomen for Avon cosmetics inwards the belatedly seventies in addition to continued to branch out - publishing an advice mass inwards 1981 in addition to subsequently moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

Beverly Johnson inwards laid-back shirtdress, gulp in addition to all. From Glamour, Apr 1973
Photo Patrick Demarchelier
She is an addictive usage model to the most African-American in addition to African models in addition to was pleased to run into 'much to a greater extent than ethnic diversity' appears inwards fashion industry. Johnson who received tons of advice from her mentor in addition to successful dark model Naomi Sims at the get-go of her career has ever given a helping mitt to novel entrant dark models. 'I scream back driving Naomi Campbell to jobs in addition to Tyra Banks, in addition to fifty-fifty Iman when she foremost came from Africa,' said Beverly Johnson inwards an interview to The Guardian.
In 1995 came her foremost successful foray into the cosmetics business: the Beverly Johnson Skin Care System in addition to was followed inwards 2012 past times the Beverly Johnson Hair Collection, created for Target.
Ms Johnson's daughter, Anansa Sims Patterson, followed her into the fashion manufacture equally a plus-size model.
The ii appeared together on the reality present Beverly's Full House, which ran for viii episodes on the Oprah Winfrey Network concluding year.
Beverly Johnson Posing for Cosmopolitan inwards 1976
Johnson was honored inwards 2006 at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball along with Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Tina Turner in addition to other woman individual African Americans inwards entertainment, civil rights, in addition to the arts. The New York Times named Johnson 1 of the 20th century's most influential people inwards fashion. Given the success of her 1990's wig line, she has been a leading influence inwards pilus care, peculiarly alongside women of color. Her companionship similar a shot sells luxury pilus extensions.
Beverly Johnson, foremost dark model to grace the embrace of Elle
Johnson was born in addition to raised inwards a middle cast household inwards Buffalo, New York. Her manlike individual parent was an electrician, in addition to her woman parent a surgical technician. Growing up, Beverly was—like thence many Vogue swans claim—not only tall but awkward. “My footling sis was the beauty. She had all the boyfriends,” she told The New York Times Magazine inwards 1975.
Beverly Johnson
Johnson was a champion swimmer inwards her youth in addition to aspired to move a lawyer. She claims “I was into sports.” She frequently brought domicile medals from swimming championships, and, inwards 1968, nearly qualified for the Olympics inwards the 100-yard freestyle. After graduating high schoolhouse inwards 1969, she left Buffalo to enroll at Northeastern University inwards Boston to report political science; planning to larn a lawyer. She presently decided, however, that criminal judge wasn’t going to move her future. With the encouragement of friends—and over the objections of her father, who, she subsequently recalled, idea that “modeling was only a soft give-and-take for prostitution”—she set upward out for Manhattan to pursue a career inwards fashion.
Beverly Johnson in addition to her immature adult woman Anansa
An insider got her an interview at Glamour. “I came to the metropolis with my mother, my footling white gloves, in addition to my pilus inwards a topknot, in addition to met with the editors,” she told Vogue inwards 2009. “Then Alexander Liberman—Condé Nast's editorial director—appeared, calling all the shots, in addition to past times the destination of the solar daytime I had my foremost assignment.” Still, despite having booked a glamorous ten-page spread, Johnson was rejected past times every modeling means she approached. So she opted for computer program B: working equally a salesgirl past times solar daytime at a Manhattan store called Jax in addition to taking classes at Brooklyn College at night.
Beautiful Beverly Johnson
The agencies may non have got been able to experience the seismic cultural shift that was happening nether their really feet, but Liberman was. Glamour called back, in addition to Vogue, too. Soon, the Jax salesgirl was appearing inwards fashion portfolios shot past times Patrick Demarchelier in addition to Irving Penn. These pages caught the attending of Eileen Ford of Ford Modeling Agency, who left Johnson a message: “I desire to run into you lot correct away!”
Johnson rapidly became cipher less than a defining appear upward of the seventies, appearing on the front end of to a greater extent than than 500 magazines, including Glamour, Cosmopolitan, in addition to French Elle, inwards improver to Vogue. As 1 of the highest-paid models inwards the world, she transcended racial barriers with her operate on the runway for Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, in addition to Valentino. “I run into the inspiration of dark women beingness lifted upward all over when they hold back at me,” she told Newsweek, “and that’s a super feeling.”
Johnson’s appear upward could move seen inwards television set commercials for National Airlines, in addition to inwards ads for Virginia Slims adjacent to the tagline “You’ve come upward a long way, baby.” Her natural, wholesome hold back won her a spot equally spokesperson for Avon cosmetics inwards the belatedly seventies. And she continued to branch out. Her foremost advice book, Beverly Johnson’s Guide to a Life of Health in addition to Beauty, appeared inwards 1981. Later, she moved to Los Angeles to focus on an acting career. (She has had roles inwards several characteristic films, including How to move a Player in addition to Crossroads with Britney Spears, equally good equally appearing on striking television set shows including Law in addition to Order.) In 1995 came her foremost successful foray into the cosmetics business: the Beverly Johnson Skin Care System. It was followed inwards 2012 past times the Beverly Johnson Hair Collection, created for Target.
Beverly Johnson. The 2013 BET Awards - Arrivals Photo credit: FayesVision / WENN
“I was lucky to have got been business office of something that gave generations of African-American women a sense of belonging that nosotros did non have got until then,” she said inwards 2009. “With this privilege came responsibility.” Throughout her career, Johnson has been active inwards charitable endeavors, speaking out equally an AIDS activist in addition to working to postage stamp out sweatshops. Breaking color barriers, but also breaking basis equally 1 of the foremost models to marketplace herself good beyond the runway, she has been a trailblazer inwards to a greater extent than ways than one.
Beverly Johnson on the Cover of 1976 Cosmopolitan magazine
Lists of films that Beverly Johnson had acting roles inwards it:
Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Deadly Hero | ||
Emergency! | TV, 1 episode | ||
1977 | The Baron | ||
1978 | Crisis inwards Sunday Valley | Beverly | Television film |
1979 | Ashanti | Dr. Anansa Linderby | Alternative title: Ashanti, Land of No Mercy |
1980 | The Sky Is Gray | John Lee's Mother | Television film |
1990 | Hunter | Allistar Lang | TV, 1 episode |
1992–1993 | Law & Order | Marcela/Salamotu | TV, 2 episodes |
1993 | Martin | Ms. Trinidad | |
Loaded Weapon 1 | Doris Luger | ||
The Meteor Man | Woman Doctor | ||
The Cover Girl Murders | Michaela | Television film | |
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives | Jane Marlowe Morrison | Television film | |
1994 | A Brilliant Disguise | Barbara | |
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Mrs. Cox | TV, 2 episodes | |
1995 | The Wayans Bros. | Miss Kita | TV, 1 episode |
Ray Alexander: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Menu for Murder | Alana Durand | Television film | |
1996 | Red Shoe Diaries | Lorri | TV, 1 episode |
Crossworlds | The Queen | ||
The Parent 'Hood | Mrs. Jordon | TV, 1 episode | |
1997 | True Vengeance | Lt. Kada Wilson | Alternative title: Truth or Consequences |
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Fashion designer | TV, 1 episode | |
Def Jam's How to Be a Player | Robin | ||
1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Prell | TV, 2 episodes |
54 | Elaine's Patron | ||
2000 | Down 'n Dirty | Sandra Collins | |
2002 | Crossroads | Kit's Mother | |
Red Shoe Diaries 15: Forbidden Zone | Lorri | Segment: The Forbidden Zone | |
2010 | Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns | Kate | 1 episode |
2012 | Beverly's Full House | Herself | TV, 8 episodes |

Beverly Johnson wearing a buttonless rib-knit cardigan, jersey scarf blouse, in addition to a striped knit skirt past times Kasper with belt past times Christian Dior. 1974
Photo Francesco Scavullo
BEVERLY JOHNSON inwards "Ashanti" Original Vintage Photograph 1979

Beverly Johnson Photographed past times Irving Penn, 1973

Model Beverly Johnson wearing a tweed sweater conform with long button-front cardigan, matching flared skirt in addition to sheer ribbed pullover past times Scott Barrie, with a chapeau past times Don Marshall in addition to envelope pocketbook past times I. Miller. Circa Feb 1974

beverly johnson stephen burrows design. 70s Supermodel Beverly Johnson wearing Stephen Burrows dress
Mother in addition to daughter

Beverly johnson nude,1979
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