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Home · Beauty

Best Beauty Looks in Black History

Decade after decade, classic looks are duplicated and reinterpreted from Hollywood’s leading beauties. From Diana Ross and Iman to Beyoncé and Halle Berry, we present the most inspiring beauty looks ever.

By Deena Campbell · February 26, 2015October 27, 2020
01
Angela Davis

An authorized version of Angela Davis’ story is in the works with Sidra Smith and Forest Whitaker attached as producer and executive producer, respectively. Wonder if Halle Berry will finally get to play the iconic activist?

Hulton Archive/Getty Images
02
Angela Davis

Angela Davis smiles for a photo in 2012.

03
Angela Davis

Angela Davis at the Guess Portrait Studio during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

Jeff Vespa/WireImage
04
Aretha Franklin

A portrait of young Aretha Franklin in a neat top knot.

Echoes/Redferns
05
Aretha Franklin

Soul singer Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in circa 1968.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
06
Aretha Franklin

Soul singer Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in circa 1967.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
07
Aretha Franklin

Soul singer Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in circa 1967.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
08
Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin on The Andy Williams Show in 1969.

Fred A. Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
09
Aretha Franklin

R&B singer Aretha Franklin performs with big hair onstage in 1986.

Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
10
Tina Turner

Tina Turner of the husband-and-wife R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner poses for a portrait in 1964.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
11
Tina Turner

The always beautiful Tina Turner poses for a portrait in circa 1965.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
12
Tina Turner

Portrait of Tina Turner in the early 1970s.

RB/Redferns
13
Tina Turner

Tina Turner performs in concert circa 1989 in New York City.

Larry Busacca/WireImage
14
Eartha Kitt

A young Eartha Kitt.

The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
15
Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt in 1957.

Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty Images
16
Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt posed with a short haircut wearing a red v-neck jumper in 1965.

Popperfoto/Getty Images
17
Eartha Kitt

Photo of Eartha KITT

Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
18
Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge wearing a strapless dress and red lip circa 1955.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
19
Dorothy Dandridge.

Posed studio portrait of Dorothy Dandridge.

Gilles Petard/Redferns
20
Dorothy Dandridge

Singer and actress Dorothy Dandridge poses for a portrait circa 1955.

Donaldson Collection/Getty Images) /Getty Images
21
Dorothy Dandridge

Publicity portrait of American singer and actress Dorothy Dandridge from 1951.

John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images
22
Dorothy Dandridge

Promotional portrait of American actor Dorothy Dandridge resting her head against a cushion for director Robert Rossen’s film, ‘Island in the Sun.’

Hulton Archive/Getty Images
23
Diana Ross

A photo of young Diana Ross.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
24
Diana Ross

Diana Ross of The Supremes.

Gary Null/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
25
Diana Ross

Diana Ross in 1973.

Chris Walter/WireImage
26
Diana Ross

Diana Ross in a file photo from 1990.

The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
27
Diana Ross

Gilles Petard/Redferns

Gilles Petard/Redferns
28
Diana Ross

Diana Ross performs in the Netherlands 17-10-1994.

Rob Verhorst/Redferns
29
Iman

Supermodel and actress Iman poses for a portrait in circa 1979.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
30
Iman

Somalian supermodel Iman, wearing long earrings and a white dress, 1994.

Terry O’Neill/Getty Images
31
Iman

Fashion model Iman, circa 1995.

The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
32
Iman

Iman 1999 Mobo Awards At Royal Albert Hall, London.

Dave Benett/Getty Images
33
Iman

“I just want to open a dialogue where we can talk about these things, where we can define our own beauty and approve of ourselves. We have to approve of ourselves before anyone else will. Women need to celebrate their God-given beauty instead of always trying to be something else.” –Iman

J. Vespa/WireImage
34
Iman

De Beers announces a partnership with Iman, acclaimed supermodel and businesswoman at the 55th Cannes Film Festival.

J. Vespa/WireImage
35
Iman

Iman during Isaac Mizrahi for Target Fall 2004.

J. Countess/WireImage
36
Iman

“A self-esteem issue doesn’t change whether you’re considered beautiful or not because it’s about what’s inside you.” —Iman

KMazur/WireImage
37
Iman

Iman attends Balenciaga Paris Launch Hosted by Nicolas Ghesquiere and Howard Socol in 2006.

Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
38
Alek Wek

In Lupita Nyong’o’s speech at the 2014 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, she reminisced about the importance of seeing the rise of supermodel Alek Wek, a woman with skin hued like hers. “When I saw Alek I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny,” Nyong’o said.

PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images
39
Alek Wek

Alek Wek gets prepared backstage at the Chado Ralph Rucci Fall 2004 Fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week at the Promenade in Bryant Park in New York City.

Peter Kramer/Getty Images
40
Alek Wek

Alek Wek walks down the runway at the Chado Ralph Rucci Fall 2004 fashion show at Bryant Park during the Olympus 2004 Fashion Week in New York City.

Carlo Allegri/Getty Images
41
Alek Wek

Alek Wek lets her true beauty show at the Philip Treacy for Umbro Fall 2006 fashion show while wearing very little makeup.

Bo Valentine/FilmMagic
42
Alek Wek

Alek Wek smiles bright on the red carpet at the 2006 CFDA Awards.

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
43
Alek Wek

Alek Wek with red rosey cheeks at the Heart Truth Red Dress Fall 2007 fashion show.

Thomas Concordia/WireImage
44
Alek Wek

Alek poses during a portrait session ahead of the THISDAY Africa Rising Music and Fashion Festival at the Kennedy Centre in 2008.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images
45
Vanessa Williams

The beautiful Vanessa Williams poses for a portrait for the Miss America Pageant in 1984.

Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
46
Vanessa Williams

A portrait of Vanessa Williams circa 1997 in Chicago.

Paul Natkin/WireImage
47
Vanessa Williams

Former Miss USA, singer and actress, Vanessa Williams poses during a 1989 photo portrait session.

George Rose/Getty Images
48
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams poses for an image, circa 1990.

Mick Hutson/Redferns/ Getty Images
49
Vanessa Williams

A young Vanessa Williams during at the taping of her VH1 show.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
50
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams made jaws drop with a nude lip and long, flowing hair while front row at the Kenneth Cole fashion show in 2005.

J. Countess/WireImage
51
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater on ABC’s, Ugly Betty.

Andrew Eccles/ABC via Getty Images
52
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams with perfect eyebrows at the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Dan MacMedan/WireImage
53
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams poses at a celebration for her ‘The Real Thing’ album listening party at Greenhouse in New York City with bold eyelashes.

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
54
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams as Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives.

Matthew Rolston/ABC via Getty Images
55
Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams at the 36th annual March of Dimes Beauty Ball in New York City with a sexy smokey eye.

Andy Kropa/Getty Images
56
Vanessa Williams

Actress Vanessa Williams arrives at the 2012 Disney ABC Television TCA summer press tour party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
57
Beyonce

A young Beyonce is interviewed before a performance at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images
58
Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce Knowles during MTV’s ‘TRL’ Tour in 2001.

KMazur/WireImage
59
Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce in a 2001 photo shoot.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
60
Beyonce Knowles

Beyonce at The Fighting Temptations Premiere in 2003.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
61
Beyonce

Beyonce Knowles arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of Cadillac Records in Hollywood, California.

GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
62
Beyonce

Beyonce poses backstage at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage
63
Beyonce

Beyonce during The 77th Annual Academy Awards with a killer smokey eye.

Chris Polk/FilmMagic
64
Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell visits the Today Show at the NBC Studios in Manhattan, NYC

Splash News
65
Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell attends the InStyle: The Best of British Talent Pre-BAFTA party at The Ace Hotel in London with glowing skin.

Mike Marsland/WireImage
66
Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell attends the 2015 amfAR New York Gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
67
Pam Grier

This Big Bird Cage and Foxy Brown star is the consumate 70s beauty icon.

68
Pam Grier

Actress Pam Grier poses for a publicity photo for her movie Coffy circa 1973 in Los Angeles.

Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
69
Pam Grier

“This whole beauty thing is something I’ve never comprehended.” —Pam Grier

Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
70
Lena Horne

“My identity is very clear to me now, I am a black woman.” —Lena Horne

American Stock Archive/Moviepix/Getty Images
71
Lena Horne

“I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.” —Lena Horne

GAB Archive/Redferns
72
Lena Horne

A posed portrait of Lena Horne in the film Stormy Weather.

Gilles Petard/Redferns
73
Lena Horne

The always flawless Lena Horne.

Photoshot/Getty Images
74
Tyra Banks

In this Feb. 3, 2007 picture, Tyra Banks is photographed in the Bahamas. Banks became the first black supermodel to appear alone on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. She recently returned to the Bahamas to recreate the shoot that landed her on the coveted cover, even wearing the same red polka dot bikini

AP Photo/Craig Lenihan
75
Tyra Banks

“Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It’s about accepting all of yourself.” —Tyra

AP Photo/Peter Kramer
76
2009, High Spirits

“I love the confidence that makeup gives me.” —says Tyra in a high bun at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala in New York. 

AP Photo/Peter Kramer
77
2013, Long and Sleek

Tyra Banks arrives at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala in 2013 with a red lip and statement bang.

John Shearer/Invision/AP
78
Grace Jones

The stunning Grace Jones in 1979.

Chris Walter/WireImage
79
Grace Jones

Grace Jones poses in the Winners Room at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards in England.  

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
80
Halle Berry

A portrait of a young Halle Berry from 1992.

John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images
81
Halle Berry

Actress Halle Berry poses for a portrait circa 1998 in Los Angeles.

Harry Langdon/Getty Images
82
Halle Berry

Actress Halle Berry poses for a portrait in 2000 in Los Angeles.

Harry Langdon/Getty Images
83
Halle Berry

Halle Berry on location for the TV Documentary, ‘For the Love of Liberty’ in 2006 at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.

Ron Wolfson/WireImage

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