Beverly Johnson, the supermodel who was the first Black woman to appear on the cover of American Vogue, has called for publisher Condé Nast to make it mandatory for the company to interview at least two black people for influential editorial positions within the company.
Johnson proposed the idea in an op-ed piece for the Washington Post, which was written in response to editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s internal memo, which apologized for not giving enough space or ways to elevate “Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators”.
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Johnson has appeared on 500 magazine covers but made history in August 1974 by being the first black woman to be on the cover of American Vogue, and was the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Elle France in 1975.
Year after year, companies inflict harm against black culture while actively gouging it for inspiration and taking all of the profit," Johnson says in her op-ed.
Beverly Johnson's former publicist, James Hester has accused Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour of being rude to the supermodel.
