Books like The face that changed it all by Beverly Johnson

Beverly Johnson opens her home with a raw, unapologetic account of her journey from a bullied child in the 1960s to the first African‑American model to grace the cover of Vogue. With vivid detail, she maps a three‑decade career that spanned the swinging 1970s, Hollywood’s golden age, and the fashion world’s relentless pressures. Johnson shares moments with cultural icons—Jackie Kennedy, Halston, Calvin Klein, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Jack Nicholson, Keith Richards, and Warren Beatty—while also confronting her own demons: racism, drug addiction, an abusive marriage, and the anguish of divorce. She offers an unprecedented glimpse into her love affair with Arthur Ashe and pays tribute to mentor Naomi Sims. Beyond runway anecdotes, she reveals the competitive dynamics among models such as Pat Cleveland and Iman, underscoring their collective struggle against systemic bias. Today, Johnson’s legacy extends beyond modeling to business, acting, women’s advocacy, and philanthropy, illustrating resilience and triumph in the upper echelons of fashion.

First publish date: 2015