Which American model was the first Black woman on the cover of U.S. Vogue?

Which American model was the first Black woman on the cover of U.S. Vogue? Beverly Johnson was the first Black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue.

Johnson appeared on the magazine’s August 1974 cover, a landmark moment in U.S. fashion publishing. Her breakthrough helped challenge the industry’s narrow beauty standards and increased the visibility of Black models in major fashion media. She continued to build a highly successful career, appearing on hundreds of magazine covers and working with leading designers.

The wording matters: Johnson was the first Black woman on the cover of the American edition of Vogue. Donyale Luna had earlier become the first Black model on the cover of British Vogue, appearing there in 1966. That distinction is why Luna is sometimes mentioned in accounts of Vogue history, but she is not the answer to this U.S.-edition question.

Tyra Banks, Iman, and Naomi Campbell all became influential models and Vogue cover stars later. Their prominence can make the question feel debatable, but Johnson’s August 1974 cover establishes the canonical answer.