The beauty of black women cannot be denied. Our never-ending array of skin tones and hair textures are only two entities that comprise our standout, multi-dimensional makeup. Our beauty, however, has not always been valued on mainstream platforms, particularly in the cosmetic industry.
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While not where it should be, black representation among major beauty brands is getting better. The following women are lending their voices and stunning faces to redefine the way beauty is perceived in larger markets. Scroll through the following pages and see if you remember when these leading ladies inked their beauty deals.
Iman
Before Halle Berry was on what seems to be every Revlon commercial, billboard and magazine spread, there was Iman. The Somalian beauty is credited as the world’s first black supermodel, and the first black face of Revlon in the 1980s. Beverly Johnson and Louise Vyent joined her in campaigning for the brand.
Lana Ogilvie
It wasn’t until 1992, only 23
years ago, that the first black woman signed an exclusive contract with a major non-ethnic beauty brand. The pioneer is Canadian fashion model Lana Ogilvie, who became the first black brand ambassador for CoverGirl.Tomiko Fraser Hines
Model Tomiko Fraser Hines was waiting tables in New York City when she was discovered. In addition to booking jobs for Seventeen magazine and Tommy Hilfiger, Tomiko made history as the first African American to represent Maybelline in 2001.
Liya Kebede
Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian model
whose career soared after moving to Paris at age 18. Fashion houses like Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford and BCBG Max Azria have all tapped the stunner, along with beauty brand staple Estee Lauder. She became the company’s first black model in 2003.Lerato Moloi
A South African supermodel, Lerato Moloi’s first big photo shoot was for Elle magazine. She has publicly spoken out against her industry’s obsession with thin models since the onset of her career. She also got a lot of attention when she broke the color barrier as Elizabeth Arden’s first black beauty.
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyongo’s career has been on a roll since her big debut in 12 Years a Slave. The Oscar-winning actress made headlines again last year when she landed a brand ambassadorship with Lancome, making her the first black woman to do so.
Who were the first black beauties to rep your favorite brands? Let us know below or tag us @BlackEnterprise on Twitter using the #SoundOff hash tag.