Naomi Sims, who died from cancer this past Saturday in her home in Newark, will always be remembered for her appearance as the first black model on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal in November 1968 at the height of the Black is Beautiful movement.
Often referred to as the first black supermodel: "Naomi was the first," the designer Halston told The New York Times in 1974. "She was the great ambassador for all black people. She broke down all the social barriers."
Despite childhood insecurities and a painful upbringing -- living in foster homes, towering over her classmates and living in a largely poor white neighborhood in Pittsburgh -- Ms.Sims went on to design successful collections of wigs and cosmetics for black women under her name as well as star in a variety of commercials and print campaigns.
"There is nothing sadder than an old, broke model, and there are many models who have nothing at the end of their career," Ms. Sims told The Times in 1969.
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