Monday, August 3, 2009

RIP Naomi Sims (March 30, 1949 - August 1, 2009)



Naomi Sims, arguably the first black "supermodel" and businesswoman passed away from cancer on Saturday at her home in New Jersey. If ever there was a self-made woman, Naomi was it. She overcame a difficult childhood which included the divorce of her parents, an absentee father, and several stints in foster care to become on of the most recognizable black women in the 1960s and 70s. Undeterred by agencies and designers that refused to hire the beauty, she forced down doors in the fashion industry. She sent photos of herself to dozens and dozens of ad agencies and created demand for herself. After she gave up modeling, she had a successful career producing a line of wigs, writing books, and even launching her own skincare line (which was incidentally, the first that I ever purchased from Nordstroms right before I left home for college.) She is survived by her son.

6 comments:

Chic Noir said...

rip naomi. you made the way for the second blk naomi.

Karmen Marlise said...

Am so sorry to hear this! May God Bless her and her son...

Shell said...

I'm sorry to hear about her passing.
She was a serious trailblazer. I lovingly remember reading Naomi's books and using her makeup as a teenager.

fail_safe said...

Wow, that's really sad. She died too young. RIP, Ms. Sims.

Madeleine said...

Yeah i am sorry to hear about her death too and very furious that the media just ignored it.
But anyway i am just stopping by to say i like your blog and i would love to have one another as followers. Let me know or just add me and i will do the same same later. I am just trying to network with other creative souls.
xoxo

Kimberlythinks said...

This was a true and sad loss. RIP