Semper Fabulous: Diahann Carroll

Before Halle was nominated, Kerry Washington got Scandalous, Mrs O. made the List and Beyonce was bootylicious, Diahann Carroll blazed the trail.
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UNSPECIFIED - 1st JANUARY: Posed studio image of American actress and singer Diahann Carroll in 1968. (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)
UNSPECIFIED - 1st JANUARY: Posed studio image of American actress and singer Diahann Carroll in 1968. (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)

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Caught an episode of White Collar and there was the legend, actress/singer Diahann Carroll belting out a sultry song in her recurring role, June Ellington. This elegant lady has lived more than 3/4 of a century. Talented, beautiful and stylish (Best Dressed list), author (The Legs are the Last to Go, Diahann), singer (Vegas, concerts and albums), Broadway (Agnes of God, Tony Award winner for No Strings, ) television star (first black female television star Julia and Dynasty), and movie star (Oscar nominee Claudine, Eve's Bayou, The Five Heartbeats, Paris Blues, Peeples) Diahann Carroll is everything. I learned the term "Semper Fabulous" from Susan Fales Hill's memoir, Always Wear Joy about her mother Josephine Premice. Josephine Premice, Diahann Carroll and Ruby Dee dressed to the nines and braved the racism of 1960's show business to realize stardom. Before Halle was nominated, Kerry Washington got Scandalous, Mrs O. made the List and Beyonce was bootylicious, Diahann Carroll blazed the trail.

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