Bethann Hardison – Model Manager, Fashion Activist, and Executive Producer of “Invisible Beauty”.
Bethann Hardison is a pioneering runway model, diversity-in-fashion activist, model manager, industry consultant, founder of Black Girl Coalition, and the creator and executive producer of a captivating new documentary titled Invisible Beauty.
Directed by Frédéric Tcheng, this film shines a spotlight on the trailblazing fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison and tells the story of her remarkable journey through the fashion world, from her days as a pioneering model in the 70s to her current role as a fearless advocate for diversity in the industry.
Hardison’s visionary understanding of the beauty of blackness has long placed her ahead of her time, and this documentary provides a unique opportunity to delve into her impact on the fashion world and the personal cost of being a pioneer. With Hardison serving as co-director, the film takes on a personal tone, making it an intimate and insightful look into her accomplishments and legacy.
Hardison’s visionary understanding of the beauty of blackness has long placed her ahead of her time, and this documentary provides a unique opportunity to delve into her impact on the fashion world and the personal cost of being a pioneer.
Featuring interviews with Hardison, fashion critic Robin Givhan, and industry titans such as Iman and Naomi Campbell, the documentary presents an inspiring portrait of a woman dedicated to building community and effecting change in a challenging environment. These anecdotes, testimonials, and memories paint a picture of a woman committed to fostering diversity in the fashion world.
This film is a celebration of Hardison’s achievements and a powerful reminder of the importance of diversity in fashion. It is a testament to her impact, especially in a world where the contributions of black women are all too frequently overlooked.
Bethann Hardison was honored with the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Shot Caller Award in 2007 for her work as a change agent in the modeling industry. In 2018, she was interviewed for the book “BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Owing Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth”, where she spoke about her journey and her work on this documentary. Here is an excerpt from that interview.
“A lot of people don’t know my story because I am a revolutionary.
When you’re a revolutionary, you don’t expect to be in a lot of “prestigious” spaces and places. You take whatever recognition you can get, but more importantly, you stay in your lane and do the work you’ve been called to do. Revolutionaries are called to focus on their mission.
I started my activism and advocacy work in the fashion industry when I noticed that black models were beginning to get editorial work but were not getting equal opportunities or fair wages. I was deeply concerned with the unfair politics of fashion. I had a modeling agency that was predominantly white. I had some black, Asian, and Latino models, but there were only a few. Meanwhile, other agencies didn’t even have that, so it became the norm for them to send me the black girls who came their way. There I was, trying to keep myself balanced, trying not to take on too many girls, trying to maintain a standard of excellence among the talent I did have, while also battling the racial disparities in an already competitively tough industry. I eventually said, “Enough! This system is broken, unfair, and needs to change. It can’t just be me fighting for balance; the industry needs to adjust, to change from the inside out.” That was when I started the Black Girl Coalition to advocate for just practices in the industry and to bring black models together. I thought it was really important to show them that they could have a network of support in an industry that can be so isolating for women of color.
When you’re a revolutionary, you don’t expect to be in a lot of “prestigious” spaces and places. You take whatever recognition you can get, but more importantly, you stay in your lane and do the work you’ve been called to do. Revolutionaries are called to focus on their mission.
I created the coalition to educate and mentor girls about the business during a time when black girls were starting to get booked more frequently than ever. The prerequisite to being part of the Black Girl Coalition was that you had to be editorialized. You couldn’t just be a catwalk model or someone who sat around. You had to have credibility and respect within the industry.
My vision was multilayered: I wanted to do some-thing that could both celebrate and benefit these models, give back to the community, and generate good press.
I had this idea that I was going to do a gathering to educate models on how they could work together as women of color and also as models, despite the competitiveness of the industry. (When it comes to competition, models are much like athletes: why her and why not me?) I thought it would be great to use this moment of strength to raise the consciousness of the industry and to give back—not a common thing in the fashion world. At the time, in the mid-1980s, New York City was hit hard by homelessness, so I thought we could help homeless people, especially children. Originally, it was about all of us throwing a gala to raise money. When I told Iman this, she was all over the idea: “Oh, Bethann, we have to do it.” Also helping out were Veronica Webb, Naomi Campbell, Karen Alexander, Roshumba Williams, Cynthia Bailey, Gail O’Neill, and Kersti Bowser, who was often on the cover of Elle. Everybody had a little job to do. Veronica would write the letters. Iman and I would lick the stamps. It was funny. Can you imagine Iman sitting there stuffing envelopes? She would say, “How did we get ourselves into this?” I knew the gathering would bring together peo-ple in the industry and give me the opportunity to educate them about the shift in the marketplace.
I’m glad I was able to use my voice to impact the industry and help get black models get more work. I kept the pressure on the industry by speaking up until a change happened.
A lot of people think I started the Black Girl Coalition just to bring attention to racism, but that’s not why at all. It started from a place of pure pleasure and celebration. It started from a place of recognizing those women of color who were breaking barriers in a fashion industry that was too fragile to include them completely. My mission has been to empower black models, to make them more visible, and to hold the Fashion industry accountable.”
*Part of this article contains an excerpt from the book ‘BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Owning our Magic Rocking our Truth‘