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Since before the first Black History Month, which was originally introduced as “Negro History Week” in February 1926, Black women have been making beauty history. Annie Turnbo Malone founded the cosmetics school Poro College in 1917 to teach Black haircare; Madame C.J. Walker (who attended Poro and opened the hair school Lelia College) formulated a Black haircare method and product line called Walker Haircare System selling her philosophy of “hair culture“; And, soprano singer Anita Patti Brown founded a mail-order cosmetics and perfume business called “Patti’s Brazilian Toilette Luxuries” in 1920.
Now, on the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, we look at all the women who continued to revolutionize the industry since then.
From the inventor of sew-ins Christina Jenkins to Grandassa Models in the “Black Is Beautiful” Movement and the actresses who put Black beauty in the spotlight, read on for 13 Black women who’ve made Black beauty history over the past century.
Josephine Baker
As the most referenced woman at the 2025 Met Gala, which had a theme channeling 1920s Harlem, Josephine Baker has long established her beauty identity in Black history. The American-born French entertainer was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture: the 1927 French silent film Siren of the Tropics. In the film, she popularized the kiss curl (often styled by her hairdresser Antoni Cierplikowski using gum arabic) and since then, Baker has been one of the most identifiable beauty icons in history.
UNITED STATES – NOVEMBER 10: Josephine Baker, circa 1927, wearing large hoop earrings, looking away from camera with chin resting on angled shelf (Photo by George Hoyningen-Huene/Conde Nast via Getty Images)
Christina Jenkins
Wigs and hairpieces have long been apart of Black beauty culture. But, they haven’t always been easy to secure. Researching a solution, Christina Jenkins was the inventor of the sew-in method, sewing the extensions into a persons natural hair using a needle and thread. By 1952, she was granted a patent for sew-ins before teaching the technique to other stylists throughout the US and even internationally, leading to the popularity we see today.
Dorothy Dandridge
Like Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge was a Black woman who broke barriers in cinema. The entertainer became the first Black woman to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Carmen Jones (1954), which had an all-Black cast. Her success turned her into a leading lady in the widely-referenced Old Hollywood beauty era, specifically with her red nail polish and lipstick as a symbol of glamour, power, and seduction.
Dorothy Dandridge studio portrait in off-shoulder dress for ‘Carmen Jones’ 1954. (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Grandassa Models
In 1962, a fashion show was held at the Purple Manor jazz club in East Harlem titled Naturally ’62: The Original African Coiffure and Fashion Extravaganza Designed to Restore Our Racial Pride and Standards. According to Brooklyn Public Library, the show was organized by the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios (AJASS), a group of Black creatives, co-founded by photographer Kwame Brathwaite and his brother, activist Elombe Brath.
In the show, Grandassa models (“Grandassa” from the term “Grandassaland” which is how the black nationalist Carlos Cooks referred to Africa) wore their Afros and traditional African fabrics with the tagline “Black Is Beautiful” which turned into a natural hair movement in the 1960s and ’70s alongside the Civil Rights and Black Power Movement.
Donyale Luna
Peggy Ann Freeman, better known as Donyale Luna, is considered the first-ever Black supermodel. Gaining popularity in America and Western Europe in the 1960s, she was the first Black model to appear on the cover of the British Vogue in March 1966.
American model and actress Donyale Luna (1945 – 1979), March 1966. (Photo by Roy Milligan/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Flo Jo and Gail Devers
In the 1980s, 3x Olympic Gold Metalist Gail Devers and the fastest woman in history, Florence Griffith Joyner (“Flo-Jo”), were the first to wear long acrylics in Track & Field. They were the first to cross the lines between beauty and sports, which is an influence we see especially prominent today, passing the torch to stars like Sha’Carri Richardson.
Florence Griffith-Joyner is congratulated by teammate Gail Devers after setting a new world record for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 16, 1988.
Vanessa Williams
In 1983, Vanessa Williams shook the beauty industry when she became the first Black woman to win the Miss America Pageant. Although the title was revoked due to Penthouse leaking nude photos of the model without her permission, Williams’ achievement will never be underscored as a prominent milestone in Black beauty history.
(Original Caption) Atlantic City, New Jersey: Miss America 1984, Vanessa Williams of New York, is all smiles as she poses for photographs after becoming the 63rd Miss America and the first Black woman in the history of the pageant to be crowned here, late September 17.
Tyra Banks
Supermodel and ESSENCE’s March/April 2025 cover star was the first Black woman to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1996. Over two decades later, the model made history with the magazine by becoming the oldest woman on the cover. She’s also the first to appear on the cover of GQ and get her wings as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
Tyra Banks during 33rd Edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Party at All Star Cafe in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Naomi Campbell
In the 1990s, it was uncommon for more than one Black model to be in a single fashion show, and even more rare for one to be the first to walk. But, in 1997, supermodel Naomi Campbell became the first Black woman to open for Prada in their Fall-Winter 97/98 show. Since then, the only other Black model to open the Prada show was Anok Yai 20 years later.
Naomi Campbell (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Alek Wek
Supermodel Alek Wek became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of ELLE Magazine in November 1997. She appeared on the cover with minimal makeup, a shaved head, and luminescent skin. She later revealed to ELLE her beauty secret costs a whopping 3 dollars and 69 cents. “I use Johnson & Johnson! I use their baby oil gel! That’s it.”
Alek Wek during Dior Sponsors Artist’s Ball Honoring Matthew Ritchie – Red Carpet and Inside at Guggenheim Museum in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage for Full Picture)
Pat McGrath
In 2015, makeup artist Pat McGrath and her powerhouse brand, Pat McGrath Labs, sold out of her very first product, GOLD 001, in record-breaking time (just six minutes). In 2017, McGrath became the first makeup artist to receive the British Fashion Council Award and, in 2021, she became the first and only makeup artist to be named a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Pat McGrath attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Rihanna
In 2017, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty was the first to revolutionize the beauty industry with shade-inclusive makeup products, specifically for darker skin tones. Straight out the gate, she launched the brand with 40 foundation shades (which has since reached over 50), which caused a ripple effect coined the “Fenty Effect” throughout the industry. Since then, Rih’s turned Fenty Beauty into an empire, becoming a billionaire in 2021.
Rihanna at the Dior fashion show as part of Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 held at the Musée Rodin on January 26, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images)
