Naomi Sims - The 'First Black Supermodel' Dead at 61

by Bee-Shyuan Chang (Subscribe to Bee-Shyuan Chang's posts)
Posted Aug 4th 2009 at 10:55AM

Naomi Sims, the first black supermodel, on the cover of LIFE in 1969. Photo: Yale Joel, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

While the fashion industry continues to struggle with diversity on the runways, supermodel Naomi Sims passed away at the age of 61 in Newark, NJ.

Known as the "first black supermodel," Sims lost her battle with cancer, reports the New York Times.

Sims grew up in a poor, mostly white neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA and at 18 moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

She started modeling to support herself, but it wasn't smooth sailing at first: She was told by every agency that her "skin was too dark," reports the newspaper.

So, she struck out on her own and started approaching photographers directly (talk about pro-active!).

Sims went on to model for designers including Halston, who in a 1974 New York Times article, said the following of the long-limbed beauty, "Naomi was the first. She was the great ambassador for all black people. She broke down all social barriers."

She soon landed campaigns for AT&T and was modeling for Bill Blass, then Sims made history when she appeared as the first-ever black model to grace the cover of Ladies' Home Journal. It was November of 1968 -- the middle of the Civil Rights Movement.

But after five years, Sims grew bored of the industry and decided to start a wig-making business, designing styles for black women. It eventually turned into a multi-million dollar company.

Ever the forward-thinking pioneer, the supermodel told The NY Times in 1969, "There is nothing sadder than an old, broke model, and there are many models who have nothing at the end of their career." Sims definitely was not one of them!

R.I.P.

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Filed under: News
Tags: Beverly-Johnson, bill-balss, cancer, civil-rights-movement, first-black-supermodel, Halston, ladies-home-journal, Naomi-Sims, naomi-sims-dies, Pat-Cleveland

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READER COMMENTS

(57)Add A Comment

Mark, 8-04-2009, 8:30PM

How nice for this woman that her life was a great success. Although taken too soon, it sounds like a life that was a great story filled with some good choices and worth emulating. Rest in peace.

Reply »

Denise, 8-04-2009, 10:15PM

Your words and thoughts were very kind

Shellf9ish789, 8-04-2009, 10:29PM

RIP .....You are a Beautiful person and we are proud!

Reply »

tom, 8-04-2009, 8:46PM

did i miss something or is their some part of this story reporting the type of cancer she died from

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ruby, 8-05-2009, 1:41AM

does it realy matter,what kind ?

Ron, 8-05-2009, 2:25AM

really bad cancer

Nan, 8-04-2009, 8:45PM

Rest in Peace, Naomi Sims.

Reply »

Bernie520, 8-04-2009, 8:48PM

Fellow Readers & Responders:

Where is everyone?? This woman was important, perhaps as important as Rosa Parks!! She broke a barrier that lots of folks in her business said she could not - and should not - break. But she went ahead and did it anyway. Let's hear it, folks. All of you who go on and on about your open-mindedness, and your acceptance of a plural society, and your tolerance, where are you?? Now is your chance. Don't pass this up. Show all of the "other-minded people" and the millions of racists and bigots out there, and the idiots who spout their racist venom in writing that no class of self-respecting 5th graders would hand in to their teachers, how wrong we believe they are. Those that you - and I as well - constantly rail against because of how wrong we believe their views are, and how much we disapprove of their disregard of the need for education and for purposely writing as though they received no education, and the way they brag about how they don't care how poorly they write. Let's hear your voices loud and strong on this, the passing of a great and true American Legend. Please, Let's hear from you!!

Bernie520
Seattle, WA

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Riannan, 8-05-2009, 12:23AM

Your comments are just fine, Bernie. And just because someone makes a typo, that doesn't mean they don't know to spell a word. Most of the spelling errors by AOL users are due to the fact that they can't spell. Some don't even know how to put a sentence together. It's sad because every nation in history that was considered number one fell. At this rate, it will be America's turn any day now.

DruB100d, 8-05-2009, 4:41AM

Dearest Bernie520:

Something in your post has struck a chord with me. I find it delightful that you chose in your invective to use the word "bigot". Referencing your direct quote - "Now is your chance. Don't pass this up. Show all of the "other-minded people" and the millions of racists and bigots out there"

Are you perhaps a tad of a bigot for your own beliefs?

The definition of bigot is: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; i.e. a hypocrite.

p.s. - The quote for this comment was drawn directly from what ANY 5th grade English teacher would consider a hideous example of a run on sentence. Teach thyself before you try to teach others.

Bernie520, 8-04-2009, 8:57PM

To Tom:

You are *exactly* one of the folks my last comment was addressed to. The word is spelled "there" not "their" as in ...Is *there* some part of this story...etc. How can we take your opinions and comments seriously if you can't spell a 2nd-grade level word the right way?? And that goes for everyone I challenged in my last post. Please, justify to me why we should pay attention to your comments?? They are comments that are supposedly posted by grown adults with at least a High School eduction, but which read as though they were written by elementary school students who failed English grammar, composition, punctuation, and sentence structure every year they were in elementary school. Let's hear it, everyone that objects to this. Don't let the ignorant and uneducated posters - and those who are proud to be ignorant and uneducated posters - tell us that we are wrong for pointing out the errors. Let's hear it...now and for all time!!

Bernie520
Seattle, WA

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ojt, 8-04-2009, 10:08PM

You did not spell "education" correctly. Everyone makes misktakes, don't they?

Toni H, 8-04-2009, 10:31PM

Excellent comment! I am so sick and tired of grammer and spelling errors. Thank you!!

abcd, 8-04-2009, 11:03PM

You might want to practice what you preach before you chastise others. You misspelled "education".

Pride goeth before a fall.

Kevin, 8-05-2009, 12:59AM

Bernie :-)

You mean well, but you come across like a real a**hole. You're making too big a deal on spelling and grammar. Sometimes it's best simply to understand what the other person meant to say rather than what's actually being said.

Jason Cook, 8-05-2009, 12:51PM

As a white American male, I want to say that this story is even bigger than the tearing down of racial barriers. Naomi's story is a success story for ALL Americans. This is a reminder for all people of all races to not allow other people's "opinions" to affect how you feel about yourself or alter your path of determination in achieving your dreams and goals.

Jean Speller, 8-04-2009, 9:03PM

A great legend has passed on. Still young and beautiful. I was always proud of the trails that she blazed--this beautiful black woman. I hope that the industry will at least give her a memorial befitting her worth. Rest in peace, you truly were an icon. You were one of the first supermodels.

Spellglo
New Jersey

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Bernie520, 8-04-2009, 9:04PM

One more thing, Tom:

What difference does it make how Ms. Naomi Sims died?? She died, she was a hero to the many women who came after her who aspired to the level of success she proved was achievable. She was an inspiration to anyone who wanted to accomplish something and did so when many others were telling her that she couldn't do it because she was "too dark"!! Get with it, Tom. It's the way of the world now. And it is the way of the world because of folks like Rosa Parks and Naomi Sims. I have a feeling it will be a much better USA and a much better world when those like you - and your bigotry and racism and ignorance - are gone.

Bernie520
Seattle, WA

Reply »

Darlene, 8-05-2009, 2:02AM

A great woman has died. And I thought when I got into the comments the content would be about her. But no,it was about grammar and dating sites. What the h*ll? Bernie,find a hobby and get a life. Apparently your on the computer way to much.And if you feel the need to comment STAY ON THE SUBJECT!.Now you can get down off your soap box.