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Beauty Queen, Model and Actress: Ruth Amelia Ocumárez Apataño

Beauty Queen, Model and Actress: Ruth Amelia Ocumárez Apataño

Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Ocumárez became a celebrity in her nation by becoming the first woman of predominantly African heritage to represent the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe. Due to her dark complexion and personality, she was given the nickname “La Diosa de Ébano” (The Ebony Goddess) by the Dominican public and press.

Ophelia DeVore, the pioneering former model

http://youtu.be/HQOIWq-ItpM

Ophelia DeVore, the pioneering former model who went on to open a legendary modeling agency and a school for people of color, on why she took her business international. The video is by the National Visionary Leadership Project which was co-founded by Camille Cosby and Renee Poussaint.

Models and actors who came through her school included Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, Ellen Holly, Richard Roundtree

Donyale Luna (1 January 1945 – 17 May 1979)

Donyale Luna (1 January 1945 – 17 May 1979)

Donyale Luna (1 January 1945 – 17 May 1979)

was a model and cover girl. She also appeared in several films, most notably as the title character in Salome, a 1972 film by director Carmelo Bene, and several films by Andy Warhol.
In January 1965, a sketch of Luna appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar.She became the first African American model to appear on the cover of British Vogue (March 1966); the photograph was by David Bailey.”