Ophelia DeVore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ophelia DeVore
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| Born | August 12, 1922 |
| Died | February 28, 2014 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Hunter College High School |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation | model, entrepreneur, publisher |
| Known for | The Grace Del Marco Agency |
| Spouse(s) | Harold Carter, Vernon Mitchell |
Ophelia DeVore (born August 12, 1922 – died February 28, 2014) was an important American businesswoman, publisher, and model. She made history as the first African-American model in the United States. In 1946, she helped start the Grace Del Marco Agency. This was one of the first modeling agencies in America that welcomed everyone.
About Ophelia DeVore
Emma Ophelia DeVore was born on August 12, 1922, in Edgefield, South Carolina. She was one of ten children. Her parents were John Walter DeVore and Mary Emma Strother. Ophelia had a mixed heritage, including German-American, African-American, and Native American (Cherokee) roots.
Her father owned a road building business. Her mother was a teacher and musician. Ophelia's father taught her how to talk well with people. Her mother taught her about getting a good education, looking her best, and having good manners.
DeVore went to schools where Black and White students were kept separate until she was nine. Then, she moved to Winston-Salem to live with her uncle. Two years later, she moved to New York City. Living in New York meant her schooling would not be interrupted when her father traveled for work.
Ophelia DeVore graduated from Hunter College High School. She then went to New York University. There, she studied math and languages.
In 1941, she married Harold Carter. He worked as a firefighter. Ophelia studied fashion, public relations, and advertising. They had five children together.
DeVore married Vernon Mitchell in 1968. He passed away in 1972.
In 1989, Ophelia DeVore was featured in a book called I Dream a World by Brian Lanker. This book shared stories and pictures of Black women who helped change America.
In 2004, she was honored for her work in fashion and entertainment. This honor came from the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Arts Xchange, Inc.
DeVore was also the leader and publisher of The Columbus Times newspaper. This was a Black newspaper in Columbus, Georgia. She ran it from the 1970s until she retired in 2009. After she retired, her daughter, Carol Carter Gertjegerdes, became the publisher. Now, Ophelia's granddaughter runs the newspaper.
The Grace Del Marco Agency
Ophelia DeVore started modeling when she was 16 years old. She had light skin and could sometimes be mistaken for someone from Norway. This helped her get modeling jobs in Europe. But in 1946, she wanted to create opportunities for non-White women in the U.S. So, she started The Grace Del Marco Agency.
In its early days, the agency helped many famous people get their start. These included Diahann Carroll, Helen Williams, Richard Roundtree, and Cicely Tyson. There was a lot of unfair treatment because of race in New York's fashion world. The Grace Del Marco Agency was one of the few places where non-White models could find work.
Her agency's fashion shows took place in churches and on college campuses. They also held shows in big hotel ballrooms, like the Diplomat and Waldorf-Astoria hotels. Like many non-White people in the mid-1900s, DeVore found success in Europe. She especially found it in the French fashion world.
Her agency made a big impact at the Cannes Film Festival in the 1950s and 1960s. DeVore also used media to help her business grow. She co-hosted a TV show called Spotlight on Harlem on ABC.
Later, the agency changed its name to Ophelia DeVore Associates. Then it became the Ophelia DeVore Organization. In 1985, DeVore expanded her business around the world. She worked with clients in Swaziland. She also published her late husband's newspaper, The Columbus Times.
Ophelia's Beliefs
Ophelia DeVore always worked to include non-White people in the fashion industry. She believed in creating opportunities for everyone to be excellent.
