The Black Model Museum: The First American Covergirl

Forty years ago, marked the first time a black woman ever appeared on the cover of a national American women's magazine. The pioneering face on the cover of the August 1968 issue belonged to Katiti Kironde, then a college student at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Though not a model, Katiti's cover was a financial success and would open the floodgates for many model firsts in the years to follow: Jolie Jones, Mademoiselle '69; Daphne Maxwell, Glamour, '69; Jane Hoffman, Cosmopolitan, '69; Elizabeth of Toro, Harper's Bazaar, '69; and Beverly Johnson's coveted, American Vogue cover of '74, struck the last blow to the long-standing tradition of exclusion.

Thanks to Katiti's historic cover and the efforts of women and men in front of, and behind the lens, we've never known a world where diversity was blatantly not welcomed to the publication party. And we think that's something worth celebrating.

Today we're gonna party like its 1968!

The Black Model Museum [#003]: The Beauty Dynasty

From The Cocoa Lounge

Three generations of fashion industry giants.

In one historic snapshot, circa 2001, Vanity Fair Photographer Annie Leibovitz captured over 30 years of black beauty from all around the globe. To us, it was one of the most relevant images published in the magazine in years.

(Models pictured. Front Row (l to r) : Gail O'neal, Karen Alexander, Shakara Ledard, Clara Benjamin Naomi Campbell, Iman, Second Row: (l to r) Kadra, Kara Young, Cynthia Bailey, Tyra Banks, Liya Kebede, Beverly Johnson Third Row: (standing) (l to r:) Oluchi, Katoucha, Adia, Noemie Lenoir

The Black Model Museum [#002]: Beverly Peele

From The Cocoa Lounge


Former supermodel, Beverly Peele

The Fashion Industry is such an interesting beast. It produces the most exquisite creations (human and textile) and throws them out like yesterday's trash at the mere sight of an imperfection--or worse--a new season.

Such is the story of Beverly Peele, who began her fashion career as a teenage It girl in the early 90's, riding in on the steam of Beverly Johnson, Iman, and Naomi Campbell before her. She appeared on and in between the covers of Harpers Bazaar, Seventeen, Mademoiselle, Italian Vogue and a host of other publications across the globe.



But it was the dark side of the fashion world that nearly derailed her career as Peele became involved with hard partying and recreational drugs before disappearing from the scene altogether. After the birth of her daughter, she returned to modeling with a vengenace, sparking hopes in fans and critics alike that--this time--she was back to stay. But in late 2005, trouble came knocking again as Peele was sentenced in a devastating identity theft case.

These days, it seems that Ms. Peele is back on the right track. She has traded in fashion for family and recently appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, to warn young model hopefuls about the dangers of the industry.

We salute Beverly Peele's courage and wish her the best in all her future endeavors, whether it includes modeling or not.

The Black Model Museum [#001]: Aisha Cain

From The Cocoa Lounge


Model, Aisha Cain as the Evian Angel

This is the first installation of The Black Model Museum, a shout-out if you will to the models we've come to love over the years. We're pulling photos and info straight from the archives--The Cocoa Lounge early years, circa 1999 - 2002. Hope you enjoy.

Aisha Cain ruled the fashion world at the turn of the 21st century. She stood out in the post-Naomi reign with her free-form afro and baby-doll features. Aisha had the face of an angel, and was immortalized that way in a long-running Evian campaign.



Although Aisha isn't as visible these days as she was at the height of her modeling career, she remains one of our all-time faves.