By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Sign In
The Daily VogueThe Daily Vogue
Notification Show More
Latest News
Kristina Menissov
International fashion model Kristina Menissov again appears in Vogue
May 25, 2023
Tatiana Ivanova, professional photographer, tells about the success of teaching photography and her students
May 8, 2023
The Rise of Sustainable Beauty: How Eco-Friendly Products are Changing the Industry
April 17, 2023
Why Self-Care is More Than Just a Trend: The Importance of Prioritizing Your Mental Health
April 13, 2023
5 Ways to Get Glowing Skin Like Your Favorite Celebrities
April 10, 2023
Aa
  • Home
  • Clothing & Style
  • Fashion Accessories
  • Fashion Facts
  • Fashion Figures
  • Fashion Industry
  • Shopping
  • Contact
Reading: Profile of the 60s Top Model Donyale Luna
Share
The Daily VogueThe Daily Vogue
Aa
  • Clothing & Style
  • Fashion Accessories
  • Fashion Figures
  • Fashion Industry
  • Fashion Facts
  • Fashion Shopping
  • Contact
Search
  • Categories
    • Clothing & Style
    • Fashion Accessories
    • Fashion Figures
    • Fashion Industry
    • Fashion Facts
    • Fashion Shopping
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Home
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
The Daily Vogue > Fashion Figures > Profile of the 60s Top Model Donyale Luna
Fashion Figures

Profile of the 60s Top Model Donyale Luna

Helen S. Baldwin
Helen S. Baldwin June 13, 2022
Updated 2022/06/13 at 11:10 AM
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

African American models were seen in black magazines like Ebony and Jet before the Civil Rights Movement in America, but non-white models were never seen on the runway, on the covers of Western fashion magazines, or in advertising. The race-based prohibition began to end with that movement, particularly the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Donyale Luna, the globe’s first black supermodel, defied fashion’s apartheid system by debuting on the cover of Vogue in 1966.

Contents
Donyale Luna: Who Is She?Childhood and Early LifeCareerPersonal Life

If you don’t recognize Donyale Luna, don’t worry; it’s never too late to learn! We’ve created a tribute to the 60s top model, complete with a profile that tells you everything you need to know about her.

Donyale Luna: Who Is She?

Donyale Luna’s modeling career began in April 1965 when a line-drawing sketch of Luna appeared on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. This magazine had never previously featured a black person on its cover. Richard Avedon, the legendary fashion photographer for Harper’s Bazaar, signed Luna to an exclusive one-year contract.

The African American model was the first to grace the cover of Vogue in March 1966, eight years before Beverly Johnson made history by being the first black model to feature on the cover of the American Vogue in August 1974. Luna was also the first black fashion icon, and her shape and face inspired the creation of the first black mannequin in 1967.

Childhood and Early Life

the front facade of the Cass Technical High School in Detroit

Luna, first known as  Peggy Ann Freeman, was born in Detroit and grew up on the city’s northeast side. Nathaniel Freeman, her father, worked at Ford Motor Company for nearly 40 years, mostly in the foundry. Her mother, Peggy, worked as a receptionist at the downtown YWCA for nearly 30 years.

Her parents had a strained relationship, and her father was frequently abusive, living apart from the rest of the family. He was an alcoholic who returned home in a drunken stupor one night in 1950 and struck her mother, who gunned him down in self-defense in front of Luna, five, and Deborah, four.

Despite her mother’s wishes to attend nursing school, aspiring actress Luna was allegedly spotted walking around barefoot in September 1964 in a Catholic schoolgirl’s ensemble at Detroit’s Fisher Theater by New York photographer David McCabe. She quickly relocated to New Jersey, where she lived with her aunt while her career took off in nearby New York City.

Career

Peggy Ann Freeman attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where she sang in the choir, studied journalism, and began her transformation from Peggy Ann Freeman to Donyale Luna. When Detroit photographer David McCabe saw Luna leaving a theater rehearsal one day, he was so taken with the stunning and tall beauty that he suggested she move to New York to become a model.

Even though there were virtually no modeling opportunities for non-white women other than committed African-American publications at the time, Donyale was hired to work with Bob Dylan, Richard Avedon, and Jean Shrimpton within a few months. She rose to prominence overnight, with newspapers proclaiming her the first black supermodel.

Luna was born black, but she denied this was true, claiming her mother was Mexican and had married a Mexican fellow named Luna. She also claimed that her grandmother was Irish and had wedded a black interior decorator. Even though none of this held up to active scrutiny, she quickly rose to fame in the modeling world, with Harper’s Bazaar starring a sketch of her on its January 1965 cover issue.

Due to an exclusive contract with Richard Avedon, a renowned Harper’s photographer, the April issue of that year featured a six-page feature of Luna, causing advertisers in the south to pull advertising and some readers to cancel subscriptions. Following this, the magazine stopped publishing any more photographs of her. Her career had abruptly come to a halt, and she relocated to the more progressive climate of London in December 1965.

Luna quickly rose to prominence as a model in Europe, prompting Time magazine to declare 1966 “The Year of Luna.” On the other hand, modeling for Luna was a way for her to advance her acting career. Luna has appeared in films such as Who Are You, Polly Magoo?, Skidoo, Satyricon, Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali, and Salomé.

an artists rendition of Luna’s pose in the March 1966 cover

Andy Warhol and his entourage embraced Luna while in New York, and she featured in five of Warhol’s experimental films, including Screen Test in 1964 and Camp in 1965.

Luna rose to prominence as Warhol’s favorite muse, becoming one of the highest-paid models of her era. David Bailey and Helmut Newton photographed Luna. She also posed for many of the world’s most famous designers, including André Courrèges, Yves Saint Laurent, Mary Quant, Rudi Gernreich, and Paco Rabanne. Luna was also a favorite model of surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

Personal Life

When she first moved to New York City, she didn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs, but this changed after she moved to London. Luna dated movie stars, rock stars, and a prince during her free-spirited years in the European spotlight, and she also developed a drug habit. Kinski kicked her out in 1969 due to her growing drug use.

As the years passed, she was a professional risk, missing assignments and acting strangely. In November 1968, she was involved in an altercation at the Cavendish Hotel’s all-night restaurant in London that garnered international media attention. After being told that the men were not wearing ties, Mia Farrow, Luna, and three other male celebrities were told to leave the hotel restaurant around 4 a.m.

When the entourage stated that the men at the other tables were not wearing ties, management called the cops. Luna’s date, Canadian photographer/actor Iain Quarrier, was soon arrested for assaulting a “bobby” police officer, for which he was fined.

the Cavendish London entrance

Heroin, alcohol, and other drugs began to dominate her life. She posed naked for Playboy in 1975 and soon after relocated to Rome, where she married photographer Luigi Cazzaniga for the second time.

Luna was divorced from her husband when she died on May 17, 1979, due to an accidental drug overdose at 32. Dream Cazzaniga, her daughter, was only two years old when she died.

The post Profile of the 60s Top Model Donyale Luna first appeared on thedailyvogue.com.

You Might Also Like

Trends in cosmetology in 2023: recommendations of the founder of Bio Art Academy Irina Lazar

Eugeniya Kute – Fashion Model

From model and beauty contest winner to personal fashion exhibition: Learn about Tatiana Pustovit

Elvis Presley’s Influence on Fashion

Facts About Marilyn Monroe

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Helen S. Baldwin June 13, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook TwitterEmail Print
Share
Previous Article Profile of the 60s Top Model Jean Shrimpton
Next Article Profile of the 60s Top Model Lauren Hutton
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Might also Like

Trends in cosmetology in 2023: recommendations of the founder of Bio Art Academy Irina Lazar

March 23, 2023

Eugeniya Kute – Fashion Model

October 12, 2022

From model and beauty contest winner to personal fashion exhibition: Learn about Tatiana Pustovit

August 15, 2022

Elvis Presley’s Influence on Fashion

August 13, 2022

The Daily Vogue

Contact Us

Contact us by email: info@thedailyvogue.com

Find Us on Socials

  • Home
  • Clothing & Style
  • Fashion Accessories
  • Fashion Facts
  • Fashion Figures
  • Fashion Industry
  • Shopping
  • Contact

© 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?