Naomi Sims: The First Black Supermodel!

Before there was Iman or Tyra, there was Naomi Sims.

Naomi Sims became the first black fashion model to break into the mainstream world of modeling. She parlayed her fashion experience into founding a successful cosmetic products business, proving that she had brains as well as beauty.

Although importance on looks might seem trivial today, Ms. Sims became an icon for proving to black women that they could be seen as beautiful and pushing aside racist standards of feminine beauty. She gave them dignity and self-worth, and as the pictures below illustrate, she proved that women of color were not only beautiful, but sexy!

This picture sums it up. :-D