Robin Givhan: Describing Naomi Sims As A Supermodel Is A Huge Disservice

TheRoot.com:

But describing Sims as a supermodel seems like a huge disservice, considering that the term is now applied to any waifish and wan young woman who manages to book more than half a dozen runway shows in a given fashion season. In its heyday, which was the 1980s, the term had a bit more juice. It referred to a model whose name and image had managed to break free of the fashion world and enter the popular vernacular.

Read the whole story: TheRoot.com

Comments

[gemzenith]

meow

[ItHadToBeSaid]

Yes, the term "supermodel" does a disservice to Ms. Sims if describing her in the way we think of a supermodel TODAY. If you put it into context and also describe her contributions to American culture, and Bl. ack culture in particular, its easy to see that she was far more than just a "supermodel."

The recent articles about Ms. Sims' career and the comments on the other Huffpost thread give a sense of the impact she had on African-American women, and how we could define and take pride in our own beauty in a mainstream society that was still trying to figure out that Black is indeed Beautiful.

Yes, DEFINITELY more than just a "supermodel."

[GeneQueen]

I agree with Robin. To call Naomi Sims a supermodel doesn't do her justice. She was oh, so much more than that, in a league by herself. I see very little "super" about supermodels, which is why I admired Naomi so much. Supermodel, indeed.

[Weirdwriter]

Oh, nuts. Sims was the first black supermodel when the supermodel concept was first coming into its own. That's a considerable achievement that is not diluted with its current mis-application.