Beverly Johnson

Model Beverly Johnson was born on October 13, 1952 in Buffalo, New York to Henry Leon Johnson Jr. and Glorida Ledoux Johnson. Johnson attended Bennett High School in Buffalo, New York and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied criminal justice.

While attending Northeastern University, Johnson was scouted by editor in chief of Glamour magazine, Ruth Whitney, and she went on to become the first African American model to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1974 and French Elle magazine in 1975. Throughout her career, Johnson appeared on over 500 magazine covers for numerous publications including Cosmopolitan, Ebony, Essence, and Glamour. In 1979, Johnson released her music own album Don’t Lose The Feeling with Buddah Records. She also appeared on numerous television series and films including Law & Order, Crossworlds in 1996, Crossroads in 2002, and the reality show, Beverly’s Full House, which aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2012. Johnson has published numerous books including Beverly Johnson’s Guide to a Life of Health and Beauty through Times Books in 1981, True Beauty: Secrets of Radiant Beauty for Women of Every Age and Color through Grand Central Publishing in 1994, and The Face that Changed It All: A Memoir with Allison Samuels through Atria Books in 2015. She has also served as founder, chairwoman, and CEO of Beverly Johnson Enterprises and launched The Beverly Johnson Luxurious Lifestyle Brand.

Johnson served on the board of directors for the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center and as a spokesperson for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Ask4Tell4, and AIDS. In addition, she has received numerous awards and honors including a feature on the New York Times’ “20th Century’s 100 Most Influential People in the Fashion Industry” list in 2008, a Fashion Icon Award from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in 2008, a Special Recognition Award from the Black Retailers Action Group (BRAG) in 2012, the McDonald’s Black 365 Award in 2013, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in 2014, the Voice of Courage Award from Palm Springs Women in Film and Television in 2015, and the Athena Inspiration Award from the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce in 2016. U.S. President Bill Clinton appointed Johnson as an Ambassador of Goodwill to the Fashion Industry.

Johnson resides in Rancho Mirage, California. She has one daughter, Anansa Sims, and six grandchildren.

Beverly Johnson was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on March 21, 2023.