Naomi Sims is considered to be the first black supermodel. She achieved worldwide recognition from the late 1960s into the early 1970s, appearing on the covers of popular magazines. In 1969, Sims appeared on the cover of Life magazine.By 1972 Hollywood took an interest in her as a potential actress and offered her the title role in the movie Cleopatra Jones. When Sims read the script she was appalled by the racist portrayal of blacks in the movie and turned it down. Sims decided to go into the beauty business for herself.
In 1973, Ms. Sims decided to start her own business. As a model, she often did her own hair and makeup, since many studio assistants were unfamiliar with working with darker skin. She noticed that most commercially available wigs were designed for caucasian hair, so she began experimenting with her own designs. Sims baked synthetic hairs in her oven at home to create the right texture to look like straightened black hair. Within five years, her designs, produced by the Metropa Company, had annual sales of $5 million.
Sims also launched a career as an author. Her first book, All About Health and Beauty for the Black Woman, was published in 1976. The book included information on nutrition, disease prevention, common health problems, fashion, and etiquette. In 1979, Sims published her second book, How to Be a Top Model. Three years later, she published two more books: All About Hair Care for the Black Woman, and All About Success for the Black Woman.
Beginning in the early 1980s, Sims gradually expanded her business interests to include perfume, skin care products, and cosmetics for black women. Her signature fragrance, Naomi, was launched in 1981. Four years later, she founded her own company, Naomi Sims Beauty Products Ltd. In 1987, the company introduced a line of skin-care products, with Sims as the spokesmodel.
Naomi Sims appeared with other notable black women at Oprah's Legends Ball in 2006. Sims died of cancer Saturday. She was 61.
