List of black fashion models facts for kids

Fashion models are people who show off clothes, accessories, and beauty products for designers, photographers, and brands. They help bring new styles to life on runways, in magazines, and in advertisements. Many talented black models have made a huge impact on the fashion world, breaking barriers and inspiring others. This list highlights some of these amazing individuals who have shaped the industry.

Amazing Black Fashion Models

Models from A to C

Naomi Campbell, a famous British model.

• Iman Abdulmajid is a top model from Somalia. She was a favorite of many famous designers, especially Yves Saint Laurent.
• Adwoa Aboah is a British model who has appeared on the covers of major magazines like American Vogue and TIME.
• Aweng Ade-Chuol is a model from South Sudan.
• Adesuwa Aighewi is an African-American model with Chinese and Nigerian roots. She has modeled for big names like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Dior.
• J. Alexander is a model and runway coach, known for being a judge on America's Next Top Model. He walked for Jean Paul Gaultier.
• Karen Alexander is an African-American model and actress. She appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue twice and on the cover of Vogue.
• Leomie Anderson is a British model and a Victoria's Secret Angel.
• Alanna Arrington is an African-American model who has been on the cover of Elle U.K. She has walked in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show since 2016.
• Yasmine Arrington is a professional plus-size model and motivational speaker.

Tyra Banks, named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time in 2008.

• Cynthia Bailey is an African-American model and TV star from The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
• Tyra Banks was the first African-American model to be on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She also became a Victoria's Secret Angel. Tyra is the host and creator of America's Next Top Model.

Tyson Beckford, named "Man of the Year" by VH1 in 1995.

• Tyson Beckford was a top male model in the 1990s and 2000s. He was the first African-American model to sign a special contract with Ralph Lauren. People magazine named him one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
• Shari Belafonte was a model in the 1980s.
• Samile Bermannelli is a Brazilian model who has walked for Ralph Lauren, Valentino, and Fendi.
• Minah Ogbenyealu Bird was a Nigerian model and actress in the UK during the 1970s.
• Maria Borges is an Angolan model who walked in many shows after being discovered in 2012. She has modeled for Dior and Givenchy, and walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show multiple times.
• Cindy Bruna is a French model with Congolese and Italian heritage. She has appeared on runways for DVF, Ralph Lauren, and Donna Karan. She was also one of the first women of color in a Prada print campaign.

• Naomi Campbell is a British model of Jamaican descent. She was the first black model to be on the covers of French Vogue and Time magazine (Europe edition).
• Chase Carter is a Bahamian model with biracial heritage.
• Stephanie Cavalli is an Italian model with French-Guadeloupe roots. She has worked for Neiman Marcus and Victoria's Secret, and appeared on covers and in campaigns. She continues to model, walking for MiuMiu in Paris in 2024.
• Dorothea Church was a pioneering African-American model. She was the first successful black fashion model in Paris.
• Pat Cleveland was an African-American model in the 1970s. She was a favorite of designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent.

Models from D to F

• Yaya DaCosta is an African-American actress and model. She was a runner-up on America's Next Top Model.
• Elibeidy Dani is a Dominican model who has walked for Prada and Burberry.
• Agbani Darego is a Nigerian model who won the Miss World competition in 2001. She worked for brands like L'Oréal cosmetics.
• Bruce Darnell is an American model who worked for Calvin Klein, Hermès, and Kenzo. He was also a judge on Germany's Next Topmodel.
• Ebonee Davis is an African-American model and a finalist on America’s Next Top Model. She has appeared in Vogue and ads for Calvin Klein and L’Oréal.
• Naki Depass is a Jamaican model who debuted as an exclusive for Burberry, Prada, and Céline, and also walked for Givenchy.
• Ajak Deng is a Sudanese model who walked in high-end designer shows in Paris, including Lanvin and Givenchy.
• Ataui Deng is a Sudanese model who walked the runways for John Galliano and Christian Dior.
• Nadège du Bospertus is a French model who was a favorite of Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani in the early 1990s.
• Khoudia Diop is a Senegalese model who calls herself the "Melanin Goddess" because of her beautiful dark skin.
• Waris Dirie was a Somalian model active in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She appeared in the Pirelli Calendar with Naomi Campbell and wrote a book called "The Desert Flower."
• Jourdan Dunn is a British model of Jamaican descent. She has walked for major brands like Prada and Chanel, and was the first black model in 12 years to have a solo cover of British Vogue. She has also worked for Versace and Maybelline.

• Selita Ebanks is a former Victoria's Secret Angel. She also modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.
• Paloma Elsesser is a British-born African-American model with Chilean and Swiss heritage. She has been on the cover of British Vogue.
• Cora Emmanuel is a model from Martinique who has walked the runways of Chanel, Prada, and Carolina Herrera.
• Amilna Estêvão is an Angolan model who was a runner-up in the Elite Model Look contest. She has walked for Prada, Gucci, and Givenchy.
• Danielle Evans was the winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 6. She has had campaigns for CoverGirl and Sephora.

• Tomiko Fraser is an African-American model and actress. She is best known for being the face of Maybelline.
• Malaika Firth is a Kenyan model from London. She was the first black model to appear in a Prada campaign in 19 years.
• Selena Forrest is a newer face in modeling who made her runway debut in Spring 2016 and opened for Proenza Schouler.

Models from G to I

• Quiana Grant is an African-American model. She appeared in the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

• Imaan Hammam is a Moroccan-Egyptian Dutch model who has been on the cover of Vogue three times.
• Winnie Harlow has appeared in magazines like i-D and Dazed. She modeled for Diesel and appeared in commercial shoots for Sprite. She was chosen as one of BBC's 100 Women. Winnie has vitiligo, a skin condition that causes patches of skin to lose their color.
• Tanisha Harper is an African-American model, actress, and TV host.
• Shelby Hayes has been very successful, appearing everywhere from Prada to Louis Vuitton.
• Danielle Herrington was the second African-American model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
• Ubah Hassan is a Somalian-Canadian model and businesswoman. She started her career with a Ralph Lauren campaign and has worked with top designers and photographers. She is also a star on The Real Housewives of New York City.
• Marsha A. Hunt is an African-American model, singer, novelist, and actress.
• Beverley Heath Hoyland is a Jamaican-British model and businesswoman.
• Whitney Houston was the second African-American model to appear on the cover of Seventeen magazine (November 1981) and the first black singer to appear on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar (January 1996).

• Chanel Iman is a Korean/African-American model who has worked for Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, and Valentino. She was one of the models featured on the May 2007 cover of American Vogue as the "next generation of supermodels."

Models from J to L

• Beverly Johnson was the first African-American model to be on the covers of American Vogue (August 1974) and French Elle (1975).
• Kidada Jones is an African-American actress, model, and fashion designer. She appeared in Tommy Hilfiger advertisements.
• Toccara Jones is an African-American model and TV personality. She was a contestant on America's Next Top Model. She is also the first black plus-size model to appear in Vogue Italia.
• Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American model, actress, and singer. She was a favorite of artist Andy Warhol.

• Kiara Kabukuru is an American model of Ugandan descent. She has appeared in ads for Gucci and CoverGirl and graced the cover of American Vogue in 1997.
• Sabina Karlsson is an Afro-Swedish plus-size model. She has modeled for Michael Kors, Armani, and Maybelline.
• Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian-born model, health advocate, designer, and actress. She has appeared on the cover of Vogue three times.
• Jayne Kennedy is an American TV personality, actress, model, and sports broadcaster.
• Kenya Kinski-Jones is an American model who has modeled for Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, and Chanel, and appeared in Vogue.
• Katiti Kironde was the first African-American covergirl of a women's magazine, appearing on Glamour in August 1968.
• Subah Koj is an Australian model of Sudanese descent. She walked in the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Sessilee Lopez at the Barbie 50th Anniversary Collection.

• Janet Langhart is an African-American model, TV journalist, and author.
• Shakara Ledard is a model and actress from The Bahamas. She has posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
• Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta are Swedish twin models with Gambian, Senegalese, and Sápmi heritage. They have modeled for Calvin Klein and H&M, and appeared in Vogue.
• Noémie Lenoir is a French model of Malagasy descent. She has appeared in ads for L'Oréal and Gap, and was a Victoria's Secret Angel.
• Sessilee Lopez' is a Dominican model who appeared in Vogue Italias famous black issue and walked in the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
• Donyale Luna was an American model in the 1960s and early 1970s. She was the first black model to appear on the cover of a Vogue publication (British Vogue).
• Damaris Lewis is an African-American model who appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue multiple times.
• Genesis Lynea is a Bermudian-born actress and model, and an ambassador for Adidas.
• Leomie Anderson is an English model who is a Victoria's Secret Angel.

Models from M to O

• Grace Mahary is an Eritrean-Canadian model who has graced the covers of Vogue and ELLE. She has walked in prestigious fashion shows for Balmain, Chanel, Versace, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
• Anais Mali is a French model with Chadian and Polish heritage. She walked for Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, and Carolina Herrera, and joined the Angels for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2011.
• Eva Marcille was the first African-American to win the reality show America's Next Top Model.
• Denny Méndez is a former beauty queen and model who represented Italy in the 1997 Miss Universe pageant.
• Ariel Meredith is an African-American model who appeared several times in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
• Riley Montana is an African-American model who appeared in campaigns for Tom Ford.
• Lineisy Montero is a Dominican model who debuted as a Prada exclusive.
• Naima Mora was the winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 4.
• Licett Morillo is a Dominican model who has been a Prada exclusive and on the cover of Vogue Mexico.

• Ajuma Nasenyana is a Kenyan model who has appeared in catalogs for Issey Miyake and walked the runway for Victoria's Secret.
• Katoucha Niane was a Senegalese-French model.
• Mayowa Nicholas is a model who won Nigeria's Elite Model Look in 2014. She had a breakout season in Fall 2016, appearing on the runway of Miu Miu, Dior, and Prada.
• Tracy "Africa" Norman was a pioneering African-American model in the 1970s.
• Munachi Nwankwo is a Nigerian model and hip-hop artist. She won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 2007.

• Lola Odusoga is a Nigerian-Finnish model and the first black Miss Finland.
• Lana Ogilvie is a Canadian model seen in many CoverGirl ads in the 1990s. She was also featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
• Gail O'Neill is an African-American model who became a TV journalist. She appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
• Oluchi Onweagba is a Nigerian model and winner of the M-NET/Nokia 'Face of Africa' competition in 1998. She has been featured in many ad campaigns, including Victoria's Secret and Banana Republic.

Models from P to S

• Emanuela de Paula is a Brazilian top model. She has been praised by Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour of Vogue.
• Beverly Peele was the first African-American model to grace the cover of Mademoiselle in 1989.
• Daisi Pollard was crowned Miss Jamaica International in 2005.

• Lais Ribeiro is a Brazilian model. She started modeling in 2009 and quickly walked for major designers like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Versace. In 2015, she became a Victoria's Secret Angel.
• Georgianna Robertson is a Jamaican model from the 1990s. She was on the cover of Vogue Paris and walked for designers like Carolina Herrera and Chanel.
• Shaun Ross is an albino male model who has appeared in Vogue Italia and modeled for Alexander McQueen and Givenchy.

Arlenis Sosa, a Dominican fashion model.

• Jasmine Sanders is a German-American model and media personality. She has worked for Nike, Roberto Cavalli, and Victoria’s Secret, and appeared in Vogue.
• Lyndsey Scott is an American model who, in 2009, was the first model of color to get an exclusive contract with Calvin Klein.
• Bre Scullark was the third runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5.
• Fatima Siad is a Somalian-American model who started her career on America's Next Top Model. She has worked for Ralph Lauren and appeared in Paris Haute Couture shows.
• Kimora Lee Simmons is an American fashion model, author, and former president and Creative Director for Phat Fashions. She has African-American and Japanese heritage.
• Naomi Sims was a model in the late 1960s and 1970s. She was the first African-American model to appear on the cover of Ladies Home Journal and Life Magazine. She later created her own line of cosmetics and wigs.
• Mercedes Scelba-Shorte was the runner-up of America's Next Top Model in Cycle 2.
• Joan Smalls is a Puerto Rican fashion model.
• B. Smith began her career with the Ebony Fashion Show and went on to grace the cover of Mademoiselle in July 1976. She is now a successful entrepreneur.
• Toukie Smith is an African-American actress and model. She is the sister of late fashion designer Willi Smith.
• Arlenis Sosa is a Dominican model who has graced the cover of Time Magazine and walked many runways for designers like Derek Lam.
• Saleisha Stowers was the winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 9.

Models from T to Y

• Peggy Dillard-Toone was the second African-American model to fully grace the cover of Vogue Magazine (August 1977 issue).
• Duckie Thot is an Australian model of Sudanese descent. She has modeled for Oscar de la Renta, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and Balmain.
• Jasmine Tookes is a current Victoria's Secret Angel.
• Mona Tougaard is a Danish model of Somali, Ethiopian, and Turkish descent. She has appeared on the cover of British Vogue and has modeled for Fendi, Chanel, and Dior.

• Louise Vyent is a Dutch-born model popular in the 1990s. She was featured in the 1990 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and on multiple Glamour magazine covers.

Jessica White at a Vanity Fair party.

• Eugena Washington is an African-American model who was second runner-up on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7.
• Veronica Webb was the first Black model to sign with a major cosmetics company (Revlon).
• Alek Wek is a Sudanese model who has graced magazine covers and walked the runway for high-profile fashion designers like John Galliano and Calvin Klein.
• Ari Westphal is a Brazilian model of African, Italian, and German descent. She has modeled for Chanel, Sephora, and Tom Ford.
• Jessica White is an African-American Maybelline Cosmetics model and occasional actress.
• Jeneil Williams is a Jamaican model who has modeled for Nike and L'Oréal, and appeared in Vogue Italia.
• Roshumba Williams is an African-American model, actress, and TV host. She became famous for her appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
• Slick Woods is an African-American model who has appeared in Vogue and on the cover of Elle U.K..

• Anok Yai is an African-American model of Sudanese descent. She was the first African-American model to open a show for Prada.
• Kara Young is a California-born model popular in the 1990s. She landed the coveted Vogue cover on three occasions.