Origins & Early Life

Beverly Ann Johnson (born October 13, 1952) is an American model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Johnson rose to fame when she became the first Black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue in August 1974, after Donyale Luna was the first Black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1966. In 2012, Johnson was the star of the reality series Beverly's Full House that aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In 2008, The New York Times named Johnson one of the 20th century's most influential people in fashion.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Born the first of two children to Gloria Johnson, a surgical technician, Johnson was raised in a middle-class family in Buffalo, New York. During her youth, Johnson was a champion swimmer and aspired to be a lawyer. She was close to qualifying for the 1968 Olympics in the 100-yard freestyle event. Johnson attended Bennett High School, graduating in 1969. After high school, Johnson studied criminal justice at Northeastern University on a full academic scholarship.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

While in college, Johnson tried modeling while on summer break in 1971. She quickly landed an assignment with Glamour and began working steadily...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adi Shamir — Contemporary (Born in 1952) (1952): Pioneering Israeli cryptographer, co-inventor of the RSA algorithm.
• Albert Bassermann — Contemporary (Died in 1952) (1952): Esteemed German stage and screen actor, celebrated for his dramatic versatility.
• Alexandra Kollontai — Contemporary (Died in 1952) (1952): Pioneering Marxist feminist, diplomat, and Bolshevik leader in early Soviet history.
• Al Martino — Shared historical date (10-13 · Died) (2009): Iconic Italian-American crooner, celebrated for standards and his role in The Godfather.
• Alexander Yegorov (general) — Shared historical date (10-13 · Born) (1883): Soviet military leader and one of the original Marshals of the Soviet Union.
• Amy Tan — Historical peer (Born in 1952) (1952): Acclaimed American novelist celebrated for exploring Chinese-American family dynamics.
• Angela Strank — Historical peer (Born in 1952) (1952): British engineer and Chief Scientist at BP, specializing in downstream technology.
• Adria Petty — Historical peer (Born in 1974) (1974): American director, editor, and artist known for music video work with Beyoncé.
• Agnes Moorehead — Historical peer (Died in 1974) (1974): Iconic American actress celebrated for stage, film, and television roles.
• A. R. Rahman — Historical peer (Born in 1966) (1966): Visionary Indian composer celebrated for blending global sounds with cinematic emotion.
• 1952 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1952
• October 13 (10-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 13