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Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion
Recommended on Vogue's "'Superfine' Reading List" for the 2025 Costume Institute Exhibition
This gorgeous coffee table book is the first-ever collection of works devoted to celebrating Black models. "Fashion devotees will find glorious images of supers such as Iman, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Joan Smalls, and Adwoa Aboah alongside interviews and personal essays.” —Vogue
Filled with revealing essays, interviews, and stunning photographs, Supreme Models pays tribute to Black models past and from the first to be featured in catalogs and on magazine covers, like Iman, Donyale Luna, and Beverly Johnson, to the supermodels who reigned in the nineties—Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, and Veronica Webb.
The book also observes a subsequent generation of models—Adut Akech, Jourdan Dunn, and Joan Smalls—who are shaking up the fashion industry by speaking out about racial prejudice while becoming social media sensations.
Written by celebrity fashion stylist and journalist Marcellas Reynolds, Supreme Models features more than 70 women from the last 75 years. Reynolds writes, “I hope that everyone who reads this book learns something about the models included within—and more about the business of fashion and modeling. But what I want most is for Supreme Models to be a source for the little boys, or girls, who like my childhood self, need to see themselves represented in a positive light.”
The book, filled with gorgeous photographs of the women, details their most memorable campaigns, covers, editorials, and runway shows. Black models have been influencing fashion and pop culture for decades, reshaping beauty standards and boundaries.
Supreme Models is a celebration of their monumental impact.
This gorgeous coffee table book is the first-ever collection of works devoted to celebrating Black models. "Fashion devotees will find glorious images of supers such as Iman, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Joan Smalls, and Adwoa Aboah alongside interviews and personal essays.” —Vogue
Filled with revealing essays, interviews, and stunning photographs, Supreme Models pays tribute to Black models past and from the first to be featured in catalogs and on magazine covers, like Iman, Donyale Luna, and Beverly Johnson, to the supermodels who reigned in the nineties—Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, and Veronica Webb.
The book also observes a subsequent generation of models—Adut Akech, Jourdan Dunn, and Joan Smalls—who are shaking up the fashion industry by speaking out about racial prejudice while becoming social media sensations.
Written by celebrity fashion stylist and journalist Marcellas Reynolds, Supreme Models features more than 70 women from the last 75 years. Reynolds writes, “I hope that everyone who reads this book learns something about the models included within—and more about the business of fashion and modeling. But what I want most is for Supreme Models to be a source for the little boys, or girls, who like my childhood self, need to see themselves represented in a positive light.”
The book, filled with gorgeous photographs of the women, details their most memorable campaigns, covers, editorials, and runway shows. Black models have been influencing fashion and pop culture for decades, reshaping beauty standards and boundaries.
Supreme Models is a celebration of their monumental impact.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 21, 2020
I loved it.
Good coffee table book but also a great reminder that the standard of beauty is always in need of review.
I wish there was more info on each model, but nothing I can't do my own independent research on.
Good coffee table book but also a great reminder that the standard of beauty is always in need of review.
I wish there was more info on each model, but nothing I can't do my own independent research on.
March 12, 2020
Beautiful. Lots of interesting interview. I kinda wish that each model had a little interview but that would have made it forever long...so i get it.
February 15, 2021
I liked this book. Only downfall, I wish all of the models featured had stories or interviews.
September 25, 2020
The history is interesting and the photographs and sheer number of models covered are impressive. But the book is laid out alphabetically and there are some inscrutable decisions as to why some models get significantly more coverage. I wouldn't really say that this book was written so much as compiled or put together. There is one introductory essay and you piece together the history based on multiple timelines and common names and agencies that get mentioned over and over again. Overall, I think if the intersection of Blackness and fashion interests you, there will be some new names and fun facts. But there's not a lot of "meat" here and I would recommend getting it from the library before deciding if it's something you want to buy. Definitely more of a fun coffee table type book to flip through.
February 3, 2023
I love the book and representation of black women from around the world. It also included mixed, biracial, and Afro-Latina models. Photographs were beautiful and the forward by Veronica Webb was very nice. The book also included interviews for some models which was a surprise and they were very informational.
April 27, 2026
it's a coffee table book. truly. that's what this is. pictures, a few essays, some interviews. a love letter truly. one of the many books i want for myself. i've read all 3 supreme books today.
i suggest finding a physical copy of this book rather than reading it on kindle. that being said it was so nice putting names to a lot of the faces I see on Tumblr and pinterest
i suggest finding a physical copy of this book rather than reading it on kindle. that being said it was so nice putting names to a lot of the faces I see on Tumblr and pinterest
March 20, 2020
Great photos. Good interviews. Daphne Maxwell Reid looks like three different people on her covers. Did not know she use to be a model. Would make a good gift or coffee table book.
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November 28, 2024I found photos from the 90s & 00s either exorcising or fetishising (or both 🙄). The 80s and 10s treated subjects more like human. Sadly, we’re about to enter the next regressive era.
December 31, 2025
beautiful
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews