Naomi Campbell was the first Black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, in 1988.
The cover was a landmark in fashion publishing and reflected Campbell’s rapid rise during the late 1980s. She was one of the models associated with the international supermodel era, when a small group of highly recognizable fashion personalities became global celebrities.
Campbell had been discovered in London as a teenager and worked with major designers, photographers, and magazines. Her career later expanded into philanthropy, activism, and business, while she remained a prominent runway figure.
The French Vogue milestone is distinct from Beverly Johnson’s 1974 American Vogue cover and Tyra Banks’s 1993 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. Each is an important but different publishing first.