Black models are having a HUGE moment in fashion and beauty — and it should never end.
Brands like Fenty Beauty and Christian Siriano are dishing out more opportunities for Black models to appear in campaigns and on runways, while OG supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Beverly Johnson continue to speak up for inclusion. Thanks to this work, it looks like the melanin moment will turn into a permanent movement.
We still have a long way to go before these industries can be considered truly inclusive, but the progress that's being made makes the future so exciting!
Check out 17 young Black models on the road to supermodel status, and prepare your soul — because these Black women are truly magic!
Duckie Thot is the melanin queen who people consider to be a real-life Barbie doll — and she is SLAYING the fashion industry one photo and runway walk at a time.
Duckie Thot stays booked and busy with modeling gigs for brands like Pat McGrath and Fenty Beauty, as well as runways for designers like Jeremy Scott.
Thot is also an advocate for natural hair and inclusion in the beauty industry.
Slick Woods kills runways and is the face of TWO major Rihanna-owned brands: Fenty Beauty and Fenty x Puma.
Like Duckie Thot, Slick Woods also walked in the Jeremy Scott show for New York Fashion Week in February 2018.
If you haven't ever witnessed the fierce curvy goddess that is Liris Crosse, then you've been seriously shortchanged. She made her big debut modeling on Project Runway and SERVED every single look she strutted in.
The Project Runway designers made the clothes, but Liris brought each look to pure life with her walk and runway personality.
When she isn't killing it on the reality design show, she models lingerie for plus size women with brands like Curvy Couture Intimates and Elomi Lingerie.
Nyakim Gatwetch was once told she should bleach her skin. Years later, she's proving that mentality completely wrong by showing off her rich melanin in every single photo shoot!
Gatwetch recently shot a lipstick campaign with the beauty brand Juvia's Place and there isn't a photoshoot or piece of clothing she cannot slay FLAWLESSLY.
She also modeled in New York Fashion Week for the brand Flying Solo in February 2018.
Jordyn Woods is so much more than Kylie's BFF and definitely more than an Instagram model. She's taken her curves and her glow to fashion and lifestyle magazines – and there is certainly more to come.
Jordyn Woods has the beauty and the influence it takes to reach supermodel status just like the rest of the young Black models who came up through agencies.
She slayed her Cosmopolitan shoot and her Modeliste magazine cover as easily as she does her Instagram selfies.
Jasmine Sanders is a high fashion runway regular, a street style queen, and a Pat McGrath muse.
She's also the face of the luxury jewelry brand Bulgari.
Winnie Harlow hit the scene on Cycle 21 of America's Next Top Model. Though she didn't win the competition, she's been killing runways and print gigs left and right.
Winnie Harlow recently slayed the Tommy Hilfiger runway for Milan Fashion Week in February 2018.
Jourdan Dunn graces catwalks and makes plenty of stylish appearances for the many beauty and fashion brands she partners with.
She's currently the face of the luxury crystal brand Swarovski.
Chanel Iman is a high fashion runway favorite, and also an ambassador for the fashion brand Revolve.
She was also one of the young Black supermodels invited to star in Beyoncé's video for her song Yoncé in 2013 – alongside Jourdan Dunn and Joan Smalls.
Deddeh Howard started the Black Mirror Project recreated mainstream ad campaigns to show just how beautiful they still are when a woman of color is included — and the photo series went VIRAL.
Since her series launch, she's modeled ads for brands like Kate Spade, Armani Beauty, and Clinique.
Maria Borges is known for her killer Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway walk — and being the first Black woman to hit that runway with her natural hair on full display in 2015.
She most recently modeled in the Jeremy Scott fashion show during New York Fashion Week and the H&M show for Paris Fashion Week.
Anok Yai was a college kid enjoying Howard University's 2017 Homecoming Yardfest when a photographer snapped her photo, posted it to Instagram, and sent her gorgeous melanin into viral status.
Now she's a model signed to NEXT management.
It's only March 2018 and she's already snagged modeling gigs with brands like Nike and Prada. Anok Yai is going PLACES and deserves all of the good things.
She made history in February as only the second Black woman to walk a Prada runway since Naomi Campbell in 1997.
While that doesn't make Prada look the best (over 20 years though) — it does show Anok Yai has hit the ground running with her budding modeling career.
Catch Joan Smalls on the runways and in the pages of the most prestigious fashion magazines.
One of her latest magazine shoots was with Harper's Bazaar Arabia. She also hit up the Lanvin and Off White runways during Paris Week this February 2018.
Precious Lee is the first Black plus-size model to appear in Vogue magazine and she slays every minute of every day.
She's also been the face of Lane Bryant and walked at New York Fashion Week for brands like Christian Siriano.
Leomie Anderson has slayed every aspect of modeling, and also founded her own fashion brand.
In February, she scored the cover of Galore magazine, then transformed into a high fashion bouquet of flowers made by Moschino for V magazine.
Aside from modeling, she created the athleisure brand called Lapp the Brand, which "champions women's issues through fashion."
Jourdana Phillips joined Maria Borges in wearing her natural hair to the 2017 Victoria's Secret fashion show — taking part in one of the most racially diverse shows the brand has ever put on.
"The highlight of my career was, of course, walking for the Victoria's Secret show," she told Harper's Bazaar.
"I loved that Victoria's Secret allowed me to be myself and show the world that beauty comes in many different forms. Rarely do models get to show their personality and here they let me show the world my fun-loving personality."
Tabria Majors shot a photo series where she recreated lingerie ads to show curvy girls can sell lingerie too.
Since then, Tabria Majors also snagged a spot in the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. She also models for brands like Fashion Nova Curve and Pretty Little Thing.
Baby girl is making moves and snatching wigs!
