Barbara Summers had had a long and distinguished modeling career by the time she wrote "Skin Deep," a history of black fashion models like herself. Her portfolio included ads for clients such as Avon; the picture below is originally from an Avon ad.
Ms. Summers got into modeling by accident. The New England native was teaching French at a small college in Manhattan when she agreed to a shoot for a Mademoiselle article about clothes for professional women . . . like college instructors. Soon she was one of the busiest models in the profession.
As an author, she put out a collection of short stories, "Nouvelle Soul," and wrote a novel, "The Price You Pay." Ms. Summers also edited Brian Lanker's monograph book on famous black women, "I Dream A World." Her book "Skin Deep," published in 1998, is considered a definitive history of black women in modeling.
All three of these pictures - including the one above, in which Barbara Summers poses with her son Kimson - are from "Skin Deep."
10 comments:
Thank you for this great story about the lovely Barbara Summers.
You're very welcome. :-)
What a wonderful surprise to see this, Steve. Thank you!
Ms. Summers: You're quite welcome! I'm extremely flattered and touched that I've been able to please you with my blog entry! Please feel free to look at the rest of my blog, and I hope you won't hesitate to write again. And if and when I find more pictures of you, I will certainly post them. :-) Steve
She always had that beautiful smile that no one could ever forget. A beautiful person inside and out.
What a joy to see my life long friend and her Son. She is truly beautiful and he is also.
Barbara Summers is my English professor at Hostos Community College. She teaches Expository Writing. I am very pleased with her teaching. I am very happy to be in her class.
As you can see, Tino, she's already seen this blog entry! :-) :-D
It is amazing what you find just surfing! My name is John LaFayette. I am an actor living in California now. But, in 1971 I lived in Haiti with my friend Ronald Mevs. He went home after Papa Doc died and I went with him. There we met and became friends with Barbara, her husband Marc Albert and their baby at the time, Kimson. I remember how nice they were and what a great time it was.
Thank you for this posting. I have not seen her since that time and it is very nice to hear about what she has been up to! I also came across a photo of her now very grown son, Kimson Albert. He is a Producer/Animator. I must say that I am not at all surprised at their success!
As a side note, I noticed that Pat Evans also posted here. I remember her during those days in N.Y. I used to see her and other models like Bethann Hardison along with Desighners Scott Barrie, Steven Burrows, Willie Smith, Bonnie Brownfield and Clovis Ruffin!
Man, you just took me way back!!
John: Happy to make your day! :-)
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