Bethann Hardison

Bethann Hardison -- former model, advocate, and founder of the modeling and management agency that bears her name -- has long been a groundbreaker in the world of fashion. She has helped guide the careers of some of the most prominent models in recent times and through her decades of advocacy work has challenged and helped change common notions of beauty by consistently championing diversity in the fashion industry.

Hardison rose to fame as one of the first Black supermodels in the 1970s along with Beverly Johnson and Iman. A decade later, she founded her own modeling agency, Bethann Management, where she continued to challenge prevailing notions of beauty and reshape the fashion industry. Her agency launched countless careers, including those of Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford, and had her son, "A Different World" actor Kadeem Hardison, on its roster.

Hardison has been a powerful advocate against racism within the industry and formed, with Iman, the Black Girls Coalition, a watchdog group that provided advocacy and support to African-American models and raised awareness for issues ranging from homelessness to racism in advertising, in 1988. Her tireless work championing diversity in the fashion industry has earned her several additional awards throughout her career, including the Magic Johnson Foundation Distinguished Service Award, the NAACP Vanguard Award for Fashion, and the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America’s (CFDA) Eleanor Lambert Founder's Award, among many others.

Hardison has since expanded the diversity initiative to address inclusivity issues in other parts of the industry with a focus on helping young fashion designers of color to develop their businesses. In 2018, with the support of the CFDA, she founded The Designers Hub to guide and empower Black designers, and in 2019, she became an inaugural member of Gucci’s Changemakers Council. In 2020, she was appointed as Gucci's Executive Advisor for Global Equity and Cultural Engagement and was also named to the CFDA's Board of Directors. She also serves on the advisory board for Fashion Trust US, LAFW/N4XT, and Eco-Age.

Hardison marked her directorial debut, co-directing the film “Invisible Beauty,” which explored her life and career as a model and activist. It premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Since then the documentary has been featured worldwide in over two dozen film festivals, winning several awards, including the inaugural Impact Award in Annapolis, Audience and Best Documentary awards in Sarasota, and the Student Choice Award at HotDocs.

Hardison is penning her autobiography, which will be released via Random House/Roc Nation/One World.