beverly johnson

Beverly Johnson is known as the first Black woman to cover Vogue in 1974, but surprisingly she says that is not her greatest accomplishment. That honor is reserved for her entrepreneurial efforts. Her expertise in the fashion industry, along with her deep interest in beauty, is coming together in her Beverly Johnson beauty line.

“There’s just something about building something and seeing something come to fruition that is really gratifying and life-reaffirming,” she admits. “I feel 20 years old because of all the enthusiasm and passion and purpose in what I’m doing right now.” Learn more about Beverly’s latest endeavor, her life lessons, and her beauty beliefs when you continue reading.

"When the magazine came out I had no idea at all that I was the first black woman to be on the cover of Vogue. I was just overjoyed to be on the cover because that's what you strive for as a model. That's when you know you have arrived."

— Beverly Johnson, on becoming the first black woman to be on the cover of Vogue in August 1974. She was only 21 when photographer Francesco Scavullo took the photo for the famed cover, but she quickly understood the significance of being first when she saw how discriminatory the fashion industry was — and still can be although it's clearly come a long way.

If you need an example of an overachiever, look no further than Beverly Johnson. After a childhood of excelling at sports and in academics, she earned a full scholarship to study criminal justice at Northeastern University. But on the insistence of friends, she decided to try modeling.

That decision certainly paid off, and at 22, she became the first African-American woman to grace the cover of Vogue. "I embarked on this journey of self-discovery from that cover, because after finding out that I was the first woman of color to be on that cover, it angered me," she has said. "I really wanted to take on that kind of responsibility. That cover meant so much to so many people."

Unfortunately, like many models, Johnson's success came at a price. "I think that I will always have an eating disorder," she has said. "I think once you have it, it never leaves you completely." While she may still struggle to overcome her eating issues, she hasn't left the beauty and fashion biz. These days, Beverly is a judge on She's Got the Look, a modeling competition for women 35 and older. She also has a line of wigs and extensions — as well as a daughter who's following in her footsteps (against Beverly's advice) as a plus-size model.