Naomi Sims
USABiography of Naomi Sims
Naomi Sims was an African American model, businesswoman, and writer, often referred to as the first African American supermodel. She was born in Oxford, Mississippi, as the youngest of three daughters to John and Elizabeth Sims. Sims never knew her father, as her parents divorced shortly after her birth, allegedly due to her father's alcoholism.
At the age of thirteen, Naomi faced bullying for her height, standing at five feet and ten inches (178 cm). Her mother relocated the family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Naomi was eventually adopted. However, the bullying continued at her new school, but she credited her Catholic faith with helping her overcome the difficulties.
Naomi attended college on a scholarship from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and took psychology classes at the evening program of New York University. Her initial attempts to break into the modeling industry were unsuccessful due to racial prejudice prevalent in agencies at the time. However, her breakthrough came when she decided to reach out directly to fashion photographers.
Gosta Peterson, a photographer for The New York Times, agreed to shoot her for the fashion supplement of the newspaper. Despite this breakthrough, Naomi still struggled to find consistent work. Eventually, she contacted Wilhelmina Cooper, a former model and founder of her own agency. Naomi sent copies of the newspaper featuring her to major modeling agencies along with Wilhelmina's contact information, with the understanding that Cooper would receive a percentage of any profits. Within a year, Naomi was earning a thousand dollars per week.
Her career took a significant turn when she appeared in a national campaign for AT&T, wearing designs by Bill Blass. In 1968, Naomi told Ladies' Home Journal that it was after her face was shown nationwide for the first time that major employers took an interest in her. As a teenager, Naomi became one of the first successful dark-skinned models, and by the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was recognized worldwide. The New York Times reported that Naomi's beauty played a crucial role in the success of the "Black is Beautiful" movement.
On October 17, 1969, Naomi graced the cover of Life magazine. In 1972, Hollywood showed interest in her, believing she had the potential to become a talented actress. She was offered a role in the film "Cleopatra Jones," but after reading the script, she angrily rejected the offer, finding it to be racist. Unsuccessful as an actress, Naomi decided to try her hand at being an independent agent in the fashion industry. She started by creating her own line of wigs, featuring long straight black hair. Eventually, her wig line grew into a multimillion-dollar empire.
Naomi Sims authored several books on the modeling industry and beauty, including "All About Health and Beauty for the Black Woman," "How to Be a Top Model," and "All About Success for the Black Woman." She also wrote an advice column for teenage girls in the magazine "Right On!"
Naomi Sims passed away from breast cancer on August 3, 2009, at the age of sixty-one, in Newark, New Jersey. She is survived by her son, Bob Findlay, and her older sister, Betty Sims. Her other older sister, Doris, had passed away in 2008.
