If you are anything like me, then you’re effectively obsessed with not only the runway fashion of the 1990s, but the women who modeled it. Even without social media, 90's supermodels seemed to be everywhere. And especially without social media, they remained mysterious, solidifying their identity as untouchable dream girls. Without Instagram, the it-girls of the 90s pose a stark contrast to today’s models, where we can keep up with Winnie Harlow and the Hadids with the mere push of a button. The mystique of 90s supermodels has kept them relevant even today, prompting our generation to emulate not only their style, but the energy that they exuded: cool, fun, fashionable, and worldly.
But perhaps more than any other supermodels of the decade, black supermodels remain an enigma. We’ve all heard of Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks, but have you even heard the name Veronica Webb? In one of the most prominent eras in history, black models were a rarity, so much so that even in the online fashion archives of Vogue, where one can view the name of the models adorning some of fashion’s greatest looks, many black models remained unnamed. So who are these Jane Does? Let me introduce you to your new muse.
Beverly Peele at Azzedine Alaïa, 1991
2. Lorraine Pascale at Chanel, 1990s
3. Gail O’Neill for Elle US, 1996
4. Veronica Webb for Vogue Italia Magazine, 1993
5. Naomi Campbell at Tomasz Starzewski, 1994
6. Lana Ogilvie for Vogue Australia, 1990
7. Alek Wek at Anna Sui 1997
8. Tyra Banks at Lolita Lempicka, 1995
9. Debra Shaw at Christian Dior, 1998
10. Kimora Lee Simmons at Fendi, 1994
It was astonishingly difficult to find the names of the women mentioned, with a few exceptions of course. While the internet is practically overruled with images of Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks dominating the runway back in their day, they were not the only black top models of the 1990s, and they definitely were not the first. The fashion industry has a far way to go in terms of supporting black women as legitimate models, as well as utilizing them as their muses. However, I’m optimistic that the day will come when black women will not only be more abundant in fashion, but be the face of it.
Written by Sasha Wayman
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