Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month every week I will spotlight an African American Model. For the First week we will start with Ethiopian Model Liya Kebede. Liya who has covered US Vogue 3 times was eleventh-highest-paid top model in the world in 2007 (earning 2.5 million dollars). Proving she is not just someone with a pretty face Liya Kebede has served as the WHO's Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health since 2005. Kebede's big break arrive when Tom Ford offered an exclusive contract for his Gucci Fall/Winter 2000 fashion show. Her popularity in the fashion industry has since elevated and she is one of very few African models featured in major fashion photo shoots and runway shows.

Influential African American Woman In Fashion

Dorothy Dandridge is the Oscar-nominated actress whose most known for her role as Carmen Jones. As teens she and her sister Vivian were part of an act known as the Dandridge Sisters; they reached New York's famous Cotton Club, and from there Dorothy worked her way into small movie parts in Hollywood. She married dancer Harold Nicholas in 1942, but it wasn't until they divorced in 1949 that Dandridge's career would begin to soar.Dandridge became the first African-American woman ever nominated for an Academy Award as best actress for the 1954 film Carmen Jones. Dandrige's style and fashion had the ability to capture many people. Her photos are absolutely breath-taking which makes her an Influential African American Woman In Fashion.

Influential African American Woman In Fashion

In honor of Black History Month I will periodically post influential african american women in Fashion. Today I will introduce you to Sudanese supermodel Alek Wek. Alek made her fashion debut at the age of 18. She is originally from the Dinka group in the Sudan, but in 1991 she and some family members fled to Britain to escape the civil war. Wek was first noticed by a Models 1 scout at an outdoor market in London in 1995 in Crystal Palace, south London. Alek has been seen in runway shows for fashion designers John Galliano, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Ermanno Scervino. Many do not know this but Wek also designs a range of designer handbags called "Wek 1933". She is truly an influential African American Woman in Fashion.

Information and picture from Wikipedia