Donyale Luna

First Black model to grace the cover of British Vogue, breaking racial barriers in 1960s fashion

Donyale Luna (1945–1979) revolutionized the fashion industry as one of the first Black supermodels to achieve international fame. Born Peggy Ann Freeman in Detroit, she challenged Eurocentric beauty standards during an era of widespread racial segregation.

Her breakthrough came in 1966 when she became the first Black model featured on the cover of British Vogue. Photographed by David Bailey, the iconic cover symbolized a seismic shift in global fashion perception. Luna's ethereal features and statuesque 6'2" frame made her a muse for avant-garde photographers like Richard Avedon and Salvador Dalí.

Beyond modeling, Luna starred in several Andy Warhol films including Camp (1965) and became the first Black woman to portray a lead role in a mainstream European film with Fellini Satyricon (1969). Her career paved the way for subsequent generations of models of color, though her legacy remains underrecognized due to her premature death at 33.