No. 59: Ophelia DeVore
Episode Transcript
Listen here.
Imagine redefining beauty standards at a time when Black women weren’t even considered for fashion magazines or advertisements. Ophelia DeVore didn’t just dream of changing the narrative—she built an empire that shattered stereotypes and opened doors for Black and brown models everywhere.
Hey everyone, I’m Shae, a PhD candidate at Harvard, and welcome to the '100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day' podcast. Today, we’re diving into the life of Ophelia DeVore, a woman who revolutionized the beauty and fashion industries, one bold move at a time.
Born in 1922 in Edgefield, South Carolina, to a mixed-race family, Ophelia DeVore faced discrimination from a young age. But instead of letting that limit her, she used it to fuel her ambition. In the 1940s, DeVore became one of the first Black models in the U.S., but she quickly realized there was little opportunity for women of color in the industry. So what did she do? She created her own lane.
In 1946, DeVore founded the Grace Del Marco Agency, one of the first modeling agencies for Black women. The agency was a launching pad for iconic figures like Diahann Carroll and Cicely Tyson. But DeVore didn’t stop at modeling. She wanted to challenge the limited representation of Black women in beauty, media, and advertising, so she trained her models in etiquette, public speaking, and overall professionalism. Her agency became known for producing not just models, but well-rounded, media-savvy professionals who could thrive in spaces far beyond the runway.
DeVore was also a savvy businesswoman. She founded Ophelia DeVore cosmetics. She also launched The Ophelia DeVore School of Self-Development and Modeling, which taught young women not just how to walk, but how to carry themselves with confidence in a world that didn’t always welcome them. She emphasized that beauty was more than skin deep, a radical concept at the time.
Throughout her career, DeVore was also a media mogul, becoming the publisher of The Columbus Times and helping shape the image of Black women in the media. Her work transcended beauty—it was about rewriting a narrative that had excluded Black and brown women for generations.
Ophelia DeVore’s legacy is a powerful reminder that beauty isn’t about fitting into narrow standards—it’s about creating space for everyone to shine. If you loved hearing her story, make sure to rate this podcast 5 stars so more people can discover these groundbreaking women. Follow me on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for even more inspiring histories. Let’s keep celebrating the brilliance of Black women, one story at a time!
