My Global Hustle » Archive » Donyale Luna: 1st Black Woman to Grace the Cover of Vogue Magazine By Piper Carter & YG

Donyale Luna: 1st Black Woman to Grace the Cover of Vogue Magazine By Piper Carter & YG

As Black History Month comes 2 a close we must continue to pay homage to those individuals who defied previously set social norms.

Today we highlight Donyale Luna a.k.a Peggy Anne Freeman who was the FIRST Black Supermodel to grace the cover of Vogue Magazine in the March 1966 issue. The turbulence of the time period makes this image an interesting cover and an even more powerful social statement. Even though Luna was breaking new ground, the partial covering of her face is a clear indication of society’s discomfort with the beauty of a Black Woman in the 60’s.

Originally born in “The D” – Detroit, Michigan… Luna moved to NY in the 50’s with the dream of becoming a model. This elegant fashionista not only graced the cover of Vogue, but also was on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar in 1965.

1966 was dubbed “The Year of the Luna” by Time Magazine as she was crowned one of the top models in the game. Salvador DalÃ (the famous Spanish Artist) considered Luna to be one of his favorite models and muse for many of his most famous pieces.
Besides being a phenomenal model, Luna did her thing on the Silver Screen. She appeared in several Warhol flicks and even did a movie with the infamous Otto Preminger.

Beverly, Naomi, Tyra, and even Jennifer Hudson should pay respects 2 the woman who laid the groundwork. That being said how much progress have we really made in the fashion world? Has this Cafe au lait beauty open new doors or birthed cacophony of new stereotypes?