Bethann Hardison
A trailblazer from the start, Bethann Hardison was one of the first black models to walk the runway in Europe. Her career began in 1967, and from there she appeared in Vogue, fashion’s holy grail, and on the pages of Allure, Harper’s Bazzar and other noteworthy publications. Since her days as a model, Bethann has used her pull in fashion to diversify the game. She co-founded Black Girls Coalition with Iman Bowie to support and advocate for African American models. In 2013, Hardison penned several open letters to the heads of Fashion Week, calling out each and every designer who didn’t cast models of color.