Naomi Sims Biography | Fashion Model and Entrepreneur

Naomi Sims

Born: March 30, 1949
Place of Birth: Oxford, Mississippi

Major Notes:

Naomi Sims is credited as having been the first black supermodel.
She attended high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In high school, Naomi Sims was teased for being noticeably taller than most girls.
However, she was a devoted Catholic who came from a supportive family background and overcame such teenage problems.
After graduating from high school, Sims enrolled at a fashion school in New York City.
Sims modeled part-time to support herself with school and expenses.
Upon graduation, she was without an agent, nevertheless she arranged a meeting with fashion photographer Gosta Peterson.
Peterson was impressed by the beautiful model and offered to help in her career.
Before long, Naomi Sims was being accepted by important fashion centers for her distinct beauty as an American black model.
By 1968, she became the first black model to appear on the cover of Ladies Home Journal.
Over the next few years, Naomi Sims was a very successful model but felt many in the field thought it because she was black.
After getting front cover exposure on such magazines as Cosmopolitan and Life, she decided to retire as a model.
Still a business woman at heart, Sims set up a very successful company manufacturing and selling wigs primarily made for black women.
In 1986, Naomi Sims Beauty Products was established and featured cosmetics for black women.
The company is a major player in the multi-billion dollar world-wide cosmetics market.
Naomi Sims has served as an inspiration for other African-Americans to become models and business women.

For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following: Harvard Business School Answers.com Naomi Sims Supermodels Database Black History Month, 1967 Wikipedia Fashion Illustration

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Naomi Sims is credited as having been the first black supermodel.

She attended high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In high school, Naomi Sims was teased for being noticeably taller than most girls.

However, she was a devoted Catholic who came from a supportive family background and overcame such teenage problems.

After graduating from high school, Sims enrolled at a fashion school in New York City.

Sims modeled part-time to support herself with school and expenses.

Upon graduation, she was without an agent, nevertheless she arranged a meeting with fashion photographer Gosta Peterson.

Peterson was impressed by the beautiful model and offered to help in her career.

Before long, Naomi Sims was being accepted by important fashion centers for her distinct beauty as an American black model.

By 1968, she became the first black model to appear on the cover of Ladies Home Journal.

Over the next few years, Naomi Sims was a very successful model but felt many in the field thought it because she was black.

After getting front cover exposure on such magazines as Cosmopolitan and Life, she decided to retire as a model.

Still a business woman at heart, Sims set up a very successful company manufacturing and selling wigs primarily made for black women.

In 1986, Naomi Sims Beauty Products was established and featured cosmetics for black women.

The company is a major player in the multi-billion dollar world-wide cosmetics market.

Naomi Sims has served as an inspiration for other African-Americans to become models and business women.