Beverly Johnson
Encyclopedia
Beverly Johnson is an American
model
, actress, and businesswoman. She made history when she rose to fame as the first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue
in 1974 (August issue). A year later, she became the first black woman to appear on the cover of the French edition of Elle
magazine.
Johnson paved the way for black women in mainstream fashion, and for future models like Naomi Campbell
and Tyra Banks
. She was honored in 2006 at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball
along with Coretta Scott King
, Rosa Parks
, Tina Turner
and other female African Americans in entertainment, civil rights, and the arts. The New York Times
named Johnson one of the 20th century's most influential people in fashion.
, Johnson was a champion swimmer in her youth and aspired to be a lawyer. She was studying criminal justice
at Northeastern University when she tried her hand at modeling. She quickly landed an assignment with Glamour
magazine and began working steadily. Johnson would go on to grace more than 500 magazine covers including her groundbreaking Vogue cover in August 1974. Johnson's appearance on the cover changed the beauty ideal in fashion and by 1975, every major American fashion designer began using African American models.
In addition to modeling, Johnson has also authored a book, Beverly Johnson's Guide to a Life of Health and Beauty, and embarked on an acting career. She has also had roles in Ashanti (1979), The Meteor Man
(1993), Def Jam's How to Be a Player (1997), and Crossroads
(2002). She has also appeared in guest spots on several television series including Law & Order
, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
, The Parent 'Hood
and the Super Bowl episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun
(1998). She had a brief singing career releasing one album in 1979 on Buddah Records
.
Johnson served for 2 seasons as a celebrity judge on the TV Land
series, She's Got the Look
, a reality series where women over 35 compete for a modeling contract and magazine spread. Johnson, partnered with Amekor, owns the Beverly Johnson Hair Collection a popular line of wigs, and hair products for the African American market. In 2010, she introduced a line of restorative and styling hair care products to Target
.
Johnson dated professional golfer Mark Burk who was convicted of making threats against her.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, actress, and businesswoman. She made history when she rose to fame as the first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
in 1974 (August issue). A year later, she became the first black woman to appear on the cover of the French edition of Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
magazine.
Johnson paved the way for black women in mainstream fashion, and for future models like Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is a British model. Scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world...
and Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
. She was honored in 2006 at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball
Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball
Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball was a three-day celebration held by Oprah Winfrey honoring twenty-five African American women in art, entertainment, and civil rights....
along with Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader. The widow of Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.Mrs...
, Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
and other female African Americans in entertainment, civil rights, and the arts. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
named Johnson one of the 20th century's most influential people in fashion.
Biography
Born into a middle class family in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Johnson was a champion swimmer in her youth and aspired to be a lawyer. She was studying criminal justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
at Northeastern University when she tried her hand at modeling. She quickly landed an assignment with Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
magazine and began working steadily. Johnson would go on to grace more than 500 magazine covers including her groundbreaking Vogue cover in August 1974. Johnson's appearance on the cover changed the beauty ideal in fashion and by 1975, every major American fashion designer began using African American models.
In addition to modeling, Johnson has also authored a book, Beverly Johnson's Guide to a Life of Health and Beauty, and embarked on an acting career. She has also had roles in Ashanti (1979), The Meteor Man
The Meteor Man (film)
The Meteor Man is a 1993 superhero film written, directed, and starring Robert Townsend, and featuring an ensemble cast. Townsend stars as a mild-mannered schoolteacher, who becomes a superhero after his neighborhood in Washington, D.C. is terrorized by street gangs.Although the film is set in...
(1993), Def Jam's How to Be a Player (1997), and Crossroads
Crossroads (2002 film)
Crossroads is a 2002 comedy-drama road film directed by Tamra Davis and starring American recording artist Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning...
(2002). She has also appeared in guest spots on several television series including Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books...
, The Parent 'Hood
The Parent 'Hood
The Parent 'Hood is an American sitcom that aired on The WB airing from January 18, 1995 to July 25, 1999. The series starred Robert Townsend and Suzzanne Douglas....
and the Super Bowl episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
(1998). She had a brief singing career releasing one album in 1979 on Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
.
Johnson served for 2 seasons as a celebrity judge on the TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
series, She's Got the Look
She's Got the Look
She's Got the Look is a reality series created for and aired on TV Land. Hosted by model Kim Alexis, twenty women compete to become the next great supermodel 35 years or older. Celebrity judges, Robert Verdi, Sean Patterson and Rosumba Williams whittle down the cast of twenty until they find the...
, a reality series where women over 35 compete for a modeling contract and magazine spread. Johnson, partnered with Amekor, owns the Beverly Johnson Hair Collection a popular line of wigs, and hair products for the African American market. In 2010, she introduced a line of restorative and styling hair care products to Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
.
Johnson dated professional golfer Mark Burk who was convicted of making threats against her.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Deadly Hero | ||
| Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios... |
TV, 1 episode | ||
| 1977 | The Baron | ||
| 1978 | Crisis in Sun Valley | Beverly | Television film |
| 1979 | Ashanti | Dr. Anansa Linderby | Alternative title: Ashanti, Land of No Mercy |
| 1980 | The Sky Is Gray | John Lee's Mother | Television film |
| 1990 | Hunter | Allistar Lang | TV, 1 episode |
| 1992–1993 | Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Marcela/Salamotu | TV, 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Martin Martin (TV series) Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox... |
Ms. Trinidad | |
| Loaded Weapon 1 Loaded Weapon 1 National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 is a 1993 crime-comedy film, directed by Gene Quintano and starring Emilio Estevez, Samuel L. Jackson and William Shatner... |
Doris Luger | ||
| The Meteor Man The Meteor Man (film) The Meteor Man is a 1993 superhero film written, directed, and starring Robert Townsend, and featuring an ensemble cast. Townsend stars as a mild-mannered schoolteacher, who becomes a superhero after his neighborhood in Washington, D.C. is terrorized by street gangs.Although the film is set in... |
Woman Doctor | ||
| The Cover Girl Murders | Michaela | Television film | |
| A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives | Jane Marlowe Morrison | Television film | |
| 1994 | A Brilliant Disguise | Barbara | |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books... |
Mrs. Cox | TV, 2 episodes | |
| 1995 | The Wayans Bros. The Wayans Bros. The Wayans Bros. is a situation comedy that aired from 1995 to 1999 on The WB. The series starred real-life brothers Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. Both brothers were already well-known from the sketch comedy show In Living Color... |
Miss Kita | TV, 1 episode |
| Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder | Alana Durand | Television film | |
| 1996 | Red Shoe Diaries Red Shoe Diaries Red Shoe Diaries is an erotic drama series that aired on the American cable television network Showtime from 1992 to 1997 and distributed by Playboy Entertainment overseas... |
Lorri | TV, 1 episode |
| Crossworlds | The Queen | ||
| The Parent 'Hood The Parent 'Hood The Parent 'Hood is an American sitcom that aired on The WB airing from January 18, 1995 to July 25, 1999. The series starred Robert Townsend and Suzzanne Douglas.... |
Mrs. Jordon | TV, 1 episode | |
| 1997 | True Vengeance | Lt. Kada Wilson | Alternative title: Truth or Consequences |
| Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series) Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem... |
Fashion designer | TV, 1 episode | |
| Def Jam's How to Be a Player | Robin | ||
| 1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet... |
Prell | TV, 2 episodes |
| 54 54 (film) 54 is a 1998 drama film written and directed by Mark Christopher, starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, and Neve Campbell... |
Elaine's Patron | ||
| 2000 | Down 'n Dirty | Sandra Collins | |
| 2002 | Crossroads Crossroads (2002 film) Crossroads is a 2002 comedy-drama road film directed by Tamra Davis and starring American recording artist Britney Spears, Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning... |
Kit's Mother | |
| Red Shoe Diaries 15: Forbidden Zone | Lorri | Segment: The Forbidden Zone | |
| 2010 | Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns Meet the Browns (TV series) Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns is an American sitcom created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a senior family living under one roof in Decatur, Georgia led by patriarch Mr. Brown and his daughter Cora Simmons. The show premiered on Wednesday,... |
Kate | 1 episode |