Photographer James L. Hicks has always admired Black models. So he was happy to contribute his work to celebrity stylist and journalist Marcellas Reynolds’ 2019 book, “Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion.”
Suggested Reading
The book, which celebrates some of the most well-known models of the past 75 years, including Beverly Johnson and Jourdan Dunn, inspired Hicks to create a book of his own – one that paid tribute to the trailblazers.
His forthcoming book, “Moments: Icons, Legends & Muses,” is a love letter to some of the most iconic Black models in history, featuring over 200 stunning black and white photographs of models, including Beverly Peele, Veronica Webb and Alva Chinn, who broke barriers, overcame obstacles and opened doors for future generations.
In an exclusive interview with The Root, Hicks said the inspiration for the book came out of a desire to pay tribute to those who had the biggest influence on him as a Black man and a photographer.
“Some of these models don’t know the impact they had on our generation. We saw ourselves,” he said. “A lot of them weren’t household names, but they were so important in the fashion industry. I just really wanted to celebrate them.”
We still have to wait a few months before the book is released in the fall of 2025. In the meantime, check out some of the beautiful photos for yourself.
James L. Hicks
For legendary photographer James Hicks,”Moments” was a labor of love.
Behind the Scenes
With the help of a team of talented stylists, hair and makeup artists, Hicks created a stunning work of art.
Beverly Peele
Beverly Peele was a force in the fashion industry during the late 1980s and 1990s. The LA-born beauty, who started modeling at age 12, had appeared on the cover of over 250 magazines by the end of the 1990s, including Elle and Vogue.
Veronica Webb
Since she became the first Black model to score a major cosmetics contract with Revlon, in 1992, Veronica Webb has made a point of using her platform to create opportunities for other people of color, from hairstylists to photographers to makeup artists.
“As they say, once you get the door open, hold the elevator,” she said in an interview with Allure.
Debra Shaw
Debra Shaw has modeled for some of the hottest fashion houses in the industry, including Alexander McQueen, Givenchy and Karl Lagerfeld. But when she prepared to leave her New Jersey hometown for Paris for the first time, not everyone was on board.
“My mother didn’t approve of me modeling in Paris until I took her to a Chanel show,” she told The Guardian in an interview. “Backstage, she saw them dressing me and cried. When she went home, everywhere she went, I was no longer ‘Debbie,’ I was her ‘daughter who lives in Paris, the model.’”
Tracey Norman
New Jersey native Tracey Norman made history as a Black trans model. Appearing on the cover of high fashion magazines like Vogue Italia and Harper’s Bazaar, Norman was also known as the face of Clairol, becoming the first trans model to appear on their boxes of hair color.
Alva Chinn
Hicks says Alva Chinn was the first model he shot for the book. Famously known as one of Halston’s muses, Chinn was just one of a handful of Black models participated in 1973's Battle of Versailles, a historic competition between American and French designers, including Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Halston and Anne Klein, created to raise money to restore the Palace of Versailles.
Connie Fleming
Jamaican born model Connie Fleming was truly a trendsetter in the fashion industry. Fleming went from performing with Boy Bar Beauties, a well-known drag group in New York City to working the door at some of the city’s most exclusive clubs to becoming a successful model and a muse to well-known designers Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood.
Lana Ogilvie
Canadian model Lana Olgivie was first discovered by Ford Models as a teenager. After moving to New York City, she appeared in magazines, including Vogue and Elle. In 1992, she became the first Black model to sign an exclusive contract with cosmetics giant CoverGirl.
Mounia Orosemane
Supermodel Mounia was discovered when she was an employee at the airport in Martinique. She caught the attention of legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent and became his first Black muse. She made history in 1978, when became the first Black model to walk in his Haute Couture show .Hicks says he’s always been fascinated with the beauty, so when she agreed to let him shoot her for his book, he was thrilled.
“She flew in from Martinique to New York to shoot, and we were stuck in an Uber for two hours in traffic,” he told The Root. “My only regret is that I didn’t record our conversation.”
Cynthia Bailey
You may know her from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” but Cynthia Bailey got her start as a model. Since leaving her native Alabama for New York City over 25 years ago, Bailey has has graced magazine covers and worked runways all around the world.
Peggy Dillard-Toone
A top fashion model in the 1970s and 80s, Peggy Dillard-Toone was only the second African American woman to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine. The stunning South Carolina native has also graced the covers of Mademoiselle and Cosmopolitan.
Wanakee Pugh
Wanakee Pugh got her start in the fashion industry as an artist before she was discovered in the 1980s by Vera Wang. At the height of her career, Pugh appeared in ads for department stores like Saks and Macy’s, walked designer fashion runways and appeared on internationally-recognized magazine covers.
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