Breaking Barriers as a Runway Pioneer
Born in 1922, Ophelia DeVore became one of the nation’s first African-American models in the late 1930s. Though opportunities were limited for women of color, the ambitious teenager enrolled in New York’s Vogue Modeling School.
Passing for Norwegian thanks to her light complexion, DeVore booked early modeling work overseas. But upon seeing the lack of black models stateside, even in African-American publications like Ebony, she set out to open doors.
Empowering Future Generations of Talent
In 1946 DeVore took matters into her own hands, co-founding the pioneering Grace Del Marco Agency alongside four other models. Later re-branded as the Ophelia DeVore Agency, her firm advanced the careers of numerous Black entertainers over several decades.
Not satisfied with promoting talent alone, DeVore also launched a namesake modeling school in 1948 focused on etiquette, public speaking and confidence building. Through pageants, training programs and television projects, her legacy continues to shape perceptions of beauty to this day.
A Lifetime of Making History
Beyond introducing Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll and others to the world stage, DeVore made history herself multiple times. Her models were crowned Miss Festival at the famed Cannes Film Festival in 1959 and 1960, a first for Americans.
Into her 90s, the trailblazer also owned a newspaper, served presidential arts councils and received accolades from institutions like the Fashion Institute of Technology. Though Ophelia DeVore has now passed on, her influence across industries remains timeless.
