No. 58: Naomi Sims
Episode Transcript
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They say beauty is skin-deep, but Naomi Sims proved that beauty is much more than that. She didn’t just walk down the runway—she strutted right into history, turning the fashion industry on its head while opening doors for generations of Black models to come. Ever heard of the first Black supermodel? Well, you’re about to. I’m Shae, a PhD candidate at Harvard, and today we’re diving into the life of Naomi Sims, the woman who didn’t just break barriers in fashion—she designed the blueprint for how to smash them.
Naomi Sims was born in 1948 in Oxford, Mississippi, the youngest of three daughters. Life wasn’t easy. After her parents separated, she was raised by her mother, who struggled to make ends meet. Eventually ending up in foster care, Naomi moved to Pittsburgh where she faced racism and bullying for her height and darker complexion. But Sims didn’t let her challenges define her. Instead, she developed a strong sense of independence that would drive her future success.
In 1966, she moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, working her way through school. But when she began pursuing modeling, agencies consistently turned her down because of her dark skin. Naomi took a different approach: she started contacting photographers directly. Her big break came when she landed a national TV ad for AT&T, making her one of the first Black women featured in a major national campaign.
Her groundbreaking 1968 Ladies' Home Journal cover was just the beginning. In a few short years, she became one of the most in-demand models in the world. But Naomi wasn’t content with just being in front of the camera. After retiring from modeling in 1973, she launched her own beauty line, specializing in wigs for Black women—an industry that had largely ignored their needs. Naomi wanted Black women to feel beautiful on their own terms, and her wigs became incredibly popular.
Behind her professional success, Naomi was a private person who valued her family deeply. She married art dealer Michael Findlay in 1973 and had a son, Bob Findlay. Though the marriage ended in divorce, Sims remained focused on her son and her business ventures, which included several books on beauty, health, and modeling. She often spoke about the importance of maintaining both physical and mental health, particularly for Black women in high-pressure industries.
Here is something I found interesting–Naomi Sims was once approached to play the title role in Cleopatra Jones. She turned it down because of its racist portrayal of black women. Instead, she remained faithful to her guiding compass— Black is, was, and will always be beautiful.
If loved learning about Naomi Sims’ story, I’d love for you to follow the podcast and rate it 5 stars so more people can hear these incredible stories of Black women who made history. You can also follow me on social media at @shaethehistorian and subscribe to my YouTube channel, where you’ll find more amazing content. Let’s spread the word and keep these stories alive!
