How Pat Cleveland Conquered Racism to Become the World’s First Black SupermodelPosted in Articles, Arts, Media Archive, United States, Women on 2016-06-20 19:01Z by Steven |
How Pat Cleveland Conquered Racism to Become the World’s First Black Supermodel
Harper’s Bazaar
2016-06-15
Kate Storey, News Edtor
Photograph: Kathryn Wirsing
Pat Cleveland was 16 years old when she was told she would never make it as a model.
It was the late Sixties, and Cleveland, who had just signed with Ford Models, was sitting nervously in a large leather chair in the agency’s intimidating Manhattan office. Co-founder Eileen Ford had requested to see the lanky teenager for some “real” talk.
“Patricia, we have very few colored girls in our agency. And do you know why?” Cleveland remembers Ford saying. “Because there is no work for colored girls. The only reason I took you is because [photographer] Oleg Cassini recommended you. But I really think you will never make it in the modeling business.”…
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