Which model became the first Black woman on the cover of French Vogue in 1988?

Naomi Campbell became the first Black woman on the cover of French Vogue in 1988.

Campbell’s appearance marked an important moment in the fashion press, where Black models had long faced limited access to major covers, campaigns, and runway opportunities. Yves Saint Laurent publicly pressured the magazine over the lack of Black cover models, and Campbell’s cover helped make the issue visible within the industry.

She had already gained international attention by the time of the French Vogue milestone and soon became one of the most recognizable models of the late twentieth century. Alongside Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Cindy Crawford, she was part of the group often called the supermodels.

The achievement is sometimes confused with other firsts: Beverly Johnson was the first Black model on the cover of American Vogue in 1974, while Campbell’s milestone concerned French Vogue.