It’s about the lasting impact of these women. We’ll leave that to the Academy Awards, the Emmys, and the Tonys. TWENTY LEGENDARY ACTRESSES is a group of women whose work continues to redefine the worlds of cinema, television, and theater. I want to introduce you to TWENTY MODELS YOU SHOULD KNOW. Everyone knows Iman, Naomi, and Tyra, but what about activist Bethann Hardison, trailblazer Helen Williams, and forever muse Karen Alexander? Or the new “It Girls” Adut Akech, Imaan Hammam, and Dilone who are setting international runways and the pages of top fashion magazines on fire with their modern multicultural beauty. Each time a model of color breaks through, she redefines the standards of beauty. In my best-selling book, Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion, I propose that Black models are the precursors to societal change. Success acts as an inspiration that propels us forward.

I believe it is only by acknowledging our triumphs that we see what is possible and dream of what is next. These galleries tell the stories of people of color who have stepped out on faith and paved the way for the next generations of artists and creators. Over the next two weeks, ESSENCE will present TWENTY-three digital exhibits I curated celebrating excellence in the worlds of acting, art, and fashion.

Separate Cinema by John Kisch