British VOGUE Features Black History

In our last article for Black History Month 2008, Society Weddings Online Magazine features Donyale Luna (January 1, 1945 - May 17, 1979) who was considered to be the first notable African American supermodel and the first black cover girl. She appeared on the cover of British Vogue Magazine in May 1966 for an issue that was entitled "Eye on the International Collections." Shown here, it is said that the pose was staged to cover her nose so as not to offend Vogue's many loyal readers.

After being discovered by photographer David McCabe, she moved from Detroit to New York City to pursue a modeling career. In January 1965, a sketch of Luna appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, however, we can contribute much of her success to fashion designer and pioneer, Paco Rabanne, who in 1964 caused quite a scandal by sending her down a Paris runway for the first time. She wore a wedding dress made of white plastic. "It was an awful scandal," Rabanne said. "After the show, American fashion journalists came backstage and almost spit in my face. They said haute couture is reserved for white women and not those girls over there."

Donyale, as she renamed herself, was born Peggy Anne Freeman in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents' were Peggy and Nathaniel Freeman, as stated on her birth certificate. Her father, who was reportedly an abusive man, is said to have been murdered when she was 18 years old. And despite what was on her birth certificate, Donyale insisted that her biological father was a man with the surname Luna and her mother was Mexican. She also fantasized that one of her grandmothers was an Irish former actress who married a black interior decorator. Whether any of this background is true is uncertain; however, in the mid 1960's a relative is known to have described Luna as being "a very wierd child.... living in a wonderland.. a dream."

Tragically, Donyale died of a drug overdose at the early age of 34.