Black Beauties: 10 Iconic Vintage Magazine Covers

Enjoy these stunning superstars during Black History Month.

Eartha Kitt - In honor of Black History Month, we're looking back at some of the most iconic magazine covers featuring women of color. From fashion It girls Beverly Johnson and Naomi Campbell to Hollywood darlings Eartha Kitt and Dorothy Dandridge, these women were the face of their generation and paved the way for a new crop of Black cover stars to shine. By Metanoya Z. Webb We wish JET still produced covers like this. Eartha Kitt was styled provocatively, but still tastefully, on the magazine’s Love in Africa, July 31, 1952 issue. (Photo: JET Magazine, July 1952)

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Eartha Kitt - In honor of Black History Month, we're looking back at some of the most iconic magazine covers featuring women of color. From fashion It girls Beverly Johnson and Naomi Campbell to Hollywood darlings Eartha Kitt and Dorothy Dandridge, these women were the face of their generation and paved the way for a new crop of Black cover stars to shine. By Metanoya Z. Webb We wish JET still produced covers like this. Eartha Kitt was styled provocatively, but still tastefully, on the magazine’s Love in Africa, July 31, 1952 issue. (Photo: JET Magazine, July 1952)

Diana Ross - The superstar's iconic 1970 Ebony cover needs to be framed, hung and idolized. She is fashion. She is style. She is history. (Photo: EBONY Magazine, 1970)

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Diana Ross - The superstar's iconic 1970 Ebony cover needs to be framed, hung and idolized. She is fashion. She is style. She is history. (Photo: EBONY Magazine, 1970)

Donyale Luna - Donyale Luna became the first African-American model to appear on the cover of a Vogue magazine, the March 1966 British issue. (Photo: Courtesy of Vogue) 

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Donyale Luna - Just in case you were wondering who this exceptional beauty is, meet Donyale Luna, the very first Black model to cover Vogue UK on March 1, 1966.  (Photo: VOGUE Magazine)

Naomi Campbell - In the late '80s, Naomi Campbell was just as fierce as she is today. The supermodel is giving us androgynous equestrian in an embellished fedora, velvet tie, tailored blazer and collared blouse for Vogue Paris, August 1988. Haute.  (Photo: VOGUE Paris, 1988)

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Naomi Campbell - In the late '80s, Naomi Campbell was just as fierce as she is today. The supermodel is giving us androgynous equestrian in an embellished fedora, velvet tie, tailored blazer and collared blouse for Vogue Paris, August 1988. Haute.  (Photo: VOGUE Paris, 1988)

She Got Her Own - Although Tyra was taking the industry by storm, she has said it was still difficult to be a Black model in an industry dominated by white models. After noticing that she didn’t make as much money as some of her counterparts, she formed a corporation in 1991 called Tygirl Inc. to manage her own career. (Photo: Courtesy Elle Magazine Germany)

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Tyra Banks - Before America's Next Top Model and "smizing" was this young and tender face that would have magazines flying off the newsstand. Check her out on Elle Netherlands in 1993. (Photo: Elle Magazine Germany 1993)

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Yolande Dassaint - In fashion, what goes around, comes around, like this floral two-piece bathing suit  that model Yolande Dassaint posed in on the cover of JET circa 1962.  (Photo: JET Magazine, July 1962)

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Yolande Dassaint - In fashion, what goes around, comes around, like this floral two-piece bathing suit  that model Yolande Dassaint posed in on the cover of JET circa 1962.  (Photo: JET Magazine, July 1962)

Dorothy Dandridge  - Dubbed as ‘Hollywood’s newest glamour queen’ by Ebony magazine in April 1951, Dorothy Dandridge is not only elegant with a whole lot of grace, she was the first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.  (Photo: EBONY Magazine, April 1951)

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Dorothy Dandridge  - Dubbed as ‘Hollywood’s newest glamour queen’ by Ebony magazine in April 1951, Dorothy Dandridge is not only elegant with a whole lot of grace, she was the first black actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.  (Photo: EBONY Magazine, April 1951)

Beverly Johnson - Isn't she lovely? From the strawberry lip gloss and rosy blush to the metallic shadow and strategically placed flower, Beverly Johnson is flawless for Harper’s Bazaar Italy 1980.  (Photo: Harper’s Bazaar Italy, 1980)

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Beverly Johnson - Isn't she lovely? From the strawberry lip gloss and rosy blush to the metallic shadow and strategically placed flower, Beverly Johnson is flawless for Harper’s Bazaar Italy 1980.  (Photo: Harper’s Bazaar Italy, 1980)

Ellen Holly - Actress and writer Ellen Holly is noted for breaking the color barrier in soap operas and possessing admirable style. Just relish in all this glamour she’s serving on the cover of JET magazine, October 18, 1956.   (Photo: JET Magazine, October 1956)

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Ellen Holly - Actress and writer Ellen Holly is noted for breaking the color barrier in soap operas and possessing admirable style. Just relish in all this glamour she’s serving on the cover of JET magazine, October 18, 1956.   (Photo: JET Magazine, October 1956)

Alek Wek - The Sudanese model’s luminous skin radiates on the cover of Elle magazine’s November 1997 issue. Her distinguished look is timeless.  (Photo: ELLE Magazine, November 1997)

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Alek Wek - The Sudanese model’s luminous skin radiates on the cover of Elle magazine’s November 1997 issue. Her distinguished look is timeless.  (Photo: ELLE Magazine, November 1997)

Photo By Photo: ELLE Magazine