Author(s): Beverly Johnson

Memoir/Biography

A revelatory and redemptive memoir from Beverly Johnson, the first black supermodel to grace the cover of Vogue. Beverly brings her own passionate and deeply honest voice to the page to chronicle her childhood growing up as a studious, and sometimes bullied, bookworm during the socially conscious, racially charged '60s. Initially drawn to a career, Beverly eventually made her mark as the first black cover model of American Vogue in 1974. A successful three-decade career in modeling followed. Offering glamorous tales about the hard partying of the 1970s and Hollywood during the '80s and early '90s, Johnson details her many encounters and fascinating friendships with the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Calvin Klein, and Andy Warhol, as well as stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Jack Nicholson, Keith Richards, and Warren Beatty. She also brings us into the heart of her struggles with racism, drug addiction, divorce, and a prolonged child custody battle over her daughter. She shares for the first time intimate details surrounding her love affair with the late tennis icon Arthur Ashe, giving little known insight into the revered tennis legend. She also pays homage to her mentor, the late Naomi Sims. Featuring gorgeous, never-before-seen photos from Johnson's childhood and modeling days.