Beverly Johnson became the first Black woman on the cover of American Vogue in 1974.
Johnson’s Vogue appearance was a landmark in fashion publishing and helped increase the visibility of Black models in major American magazines. She appeared on the August 1974 issue, photographed by Francesco Scavullo.
The achievement is sometimes confused with other “firsts” involving Vogue. Donyale Luna was the first Black model to appear on a Vogue cover internationally, appearing on British Vogue in 1966. Naomi Sims and other pioneering models also made important earlier appearances in fashion magazines, but Johnson holds the specific American Vogue cover distinction.
Johnson later became one of the most recognizable models of the 1970s and expanded her career into acting, business, and television. Her Vogue cover remains a frequently cited milestone in the history of representation in fashion media.