Donyale Luna: First African-American Model

February 1, 2011 • Taylor Walters, Staff Writer
Filed under Black History Month, Style

Before Tyra Banks, Iman, and Naomi Campbell there was Donyale Luna. She helped to open doors for the African American super models today.

Donyale Luna was discovered by photographer David McCabe, a famous British photographer whose work was featured in magazines national and international. She moved from Detroit to New York City to pursue a modeling career in the mid 1960s. She became the first African American model to appear on the cover of Vogue (March 1966), and before that she appeared on Harpers Bazaar.
“The Luna Year”, an article in Time magazine, published on April 1, 1966, described the dramatically thin and tall (6′ 2″) model with the hallmark bright blue contacts “a new heavenly body who, because of her striking singularity, promises to remain on high for many a season.” Donyale Luna, as she calls herself, born Peggy Anne Freeman, is unquestionably the hottest model in Europe at the moment.

In 1967, the mannequin manufacturer Adel Rootstein created a mannequin in Luna’s image, a follow-up to her famous Twiggy mannequin of 1966.
Unprofessional behavior began the decline of Luna’s career. As recalled by Beverly Johnson, another black model who came to prominence toward the end of Luna’s heyday, “Luna doesn’t wear shoes winter or summer. Asked her where she’s from — Mars? She went up and down the runways on her hands and knees. She didn’t show up for bookings. She didn’t have a hard time; she made it hard for herself.”

Donyale Luna had a great impact on the future for African American woman. She wanted others to see past her color.

Curious to know if Kouture Models were familiar with Donyale Luna and her helping to open doors for African American models today? I asked Kingsley Gbadegesin if he was familiar with her and he was. I asked him, “How did he feel about her opening doors for African American models today?”

“I feel as though even though she was just a young girl from Detroit and she was able to make it even when blacks weren’t the face of beauty. She was courageous and bold enough to break down barriers for African American girls today with her exotic, chameleon, multicultural look, and she did it all in her 20s. I believe if she can do it, what is stopping the young females today from making a change or a difference?” said Kingsley.