Appreciation: Naomi Sims, the First Black Supermodel

Sims, who died on Aug. 1 at age 61, broke the color barrier at mainstream women's magazines when she appeared on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal

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Naomi Sims

A tall, striking, confident, chiseled, brown-skinned beauty, she has forever changed how America defines beautiful .

No, I am not speaking of our lovely First Lady, Michelle Obama . I am speaking of Naomi Sims.

Sims, who died on Aug. 1 of cancer at age 61, was one of the first black supermodels. Her appearance on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal in 1968 broke the color barrier at mainstream women's magazines, and she went on to grace the covers of Cosmopolitan , Essence and Life . While she was not the only...

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