Pleasure Principle 11

Stand Tall

Pleasure Muse: Naomi Sims

Tantalizing Trivia:

• Naomi Sims is the first Black supermodel in history – certainly, the first Black cover girl to land the featured cover photo in major magazines like Life and Cosmo in the 1960s and 1970s

• With a dark complexion, a thin body, and standing 5’ 10 she says she was not considered beautiful to others as a teenager. She thought otherwise.

• She created a master plan to break into the racist modeling industry. When no agency would sign her, she represented herself and booked an advertising job and then – with that success – helped launch a brand new agency, Wilhelmina. It became the most prestigious agency in America.

• At the height of the Black Power Movement, Naomi Sims became the very face of the “Black is Beautiful” ethos.

• Sims went from modeling to mogul when she earned a cool 5 million in the 80s through a cosmetic and wig line developed expressly for Black women.

Mirror Work: Without changing, notice your posture. What is it saying? Now turn on the playlist and dance to the pro-Black anthems. Notice your posture now.

Affirmation: 

[Say it loud.] 

I’m Black and I’m proud.

Stand Tall:  A Playlist

Self-Care Shopping List:

• Book a deep tissue massage to release any knots or tension.

• Invest in a standing desk so that you don’t have to hunch at work. 

• Treat yourself to a new pair of heels so you can stunt on ’em like Naomi.

Meet us in the Streets: Grab your earbuds, put on your sneakers, and join co-founders Morgan and Vanessa for Black History Bootcamp, a walking podcast powered by GirlTrek. We can’t wait to talk…

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