36 Black Women Whose Great Style Is Just Part of Their Long List of Accomplishments
The 36 women here have one thing in common: seriously bold style. Each star, politician, or supermodel has her own unique look, and she completely owns it — from head to toe. Newcomers to the red carpet, like Yara Shahidi, are paving the way for Black women who should be recognized not only for their fashion sense but also for their craft and accomplishments.
But well-known leaders like Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, and Naomi Campbell have been in the spotlight for a while, some of their most memorable outfits serving as our everyday outfit inspiration. One thing's for sure: whether they're world-renowned or just Instagram famous, all the extraordinary women here should be on your list of icons to follow — today, next week, and far beyond Black History Month.
— Additional reporting by Kiara Joseph and Allison Ingrum
Yara Shahidi
Age: 20
Profession: Actress, model, and activist
Style: Yara's become a fashion It girl, rocking designers like Prada and Ralph Lauren on the red carpet. The girl doesn't just have style, she's got the brains, too (her Harvard acceptance letter is proof), and stars in her own show, Grown-ish.
Meghan Markle
Age: 39
Profession: Duchess of Sussex and actress
Style: Meghan usually goes for neutral looks, but make no mistake, she's been subtly changing the royal fashion game since day one. Her style is best described as a modern twist on classic royal fashion. She's elegance and class personified, but isn't afraid to shatter the mold and break royal protocol.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Age: 48
Profession: Actress, comedian, and model
Style: Her wardrobe is jam packed with eye-catching pieces like this sheer Germanier dress. Time and time again, she plays with color, texture, and volume to create the perfect balance between sexy and fun. Check out her best looks here.
Rihanna
Age: 32
Profession: Singer, songwriter, and fashion designer
Style: She is seriously edgy and loves to take a risk, wearing avant-garde silhouettes like this Tom Ford design, but often only when they show skin.
Serena Williams
Age: 39
Profession: Professional tennis player and fashion designer
Style: On the court, she opts for neon crop tops and flashy outfits that cause major buzz, but when she's on the red carpet, she's lingerie-status sexy.
Naomi Campbell
Age: 50
Profession: Supermodel, actress, and author
Style: Naomi has been wearing body-hugging naked dresses since way before they started trending. Any glamorous outfit that shows off her toned figure is money for the Victoria's Secret veteran.
Issa Rae
Age: 36
Profession: Actress, writer, director, and producer
Style: Issa Rae looked far from Insecure when she wore this dreamy Vera Wang jumpsuit.
Kerry Washington
Age: 44
Profession: Actress
Style: She's a little bit quirky and never afraid to try out an outfit with texture. We had a major fashion-girl freakout when Kerry debuted this Marc Jacobs number right off the runway at the 2015 Emmys.
Uzo Aduba
Age: 39
Profession: Actress and singer
Style: The Orange Is the New Black star hasn't just worn every bold shade on the red carpet, she's also shown off a slew of different silhouettes — and each one is more flattering than the next. She deserves an award for her dresses alone.
Zendaya
Age: 24
Profession: Actress, singer, and fashion designer
Style: Zendaya wears shorts for fancy events more often than you'd expect, but we're especially into how well she wears a suit. She meets her tomboy style with feminine little details.
Michelle Obama
Age: 57
Profession: Former first lady of the United States
Style: Michelle pays careful attention to prints and designers, opting for pieces made in America when she's on her home turf, British designers when she's paying a visit to London, and Chinese designers when she's hanging out with Peng Liyuan.
Beyoncé
Age: 39
Profession: Singer and songwriter
Style: Beyoncé manages to work her favorite fashion accessories in just about every look-at-me outfit she wears. She keeps her over-the-knee boots pulled high for red carpet events, performances, and even on the street, and she makes couture designs, like this Givenchy look, appear so effortless and wearable. No matter what she's rocking, Beyoncé pulls it off with ease.
Joan Smalls
Age: 32
Profession: Model
Style: She sticks with her go-to palette of black and white — because it totally works for her — but she loves a trendy shoe, like these strappy lace-ups.
Amanda Gorman
Age: 22
Profession: Poet and activist
Style: Amanda Gorman's style is full of bright colors and retro silhouettes. She mixes high with low, and clearly chooses to support brands with a forward-thinking mentality.
Cardi B
Age: 28
Profession: Rapper, singer, and songwriter
Style: This Ashi gown is equal parts bold and ethereal. Cardi forwent her usual, colorful look and opted for a muted tone in this swan-like number.
Jasmine Tookes
Age: 30
Profession: Model
Style: The Victoria's Secret Angel's outfits are sexy, straightforward, and chic. Tight-fitting designs are paired with pumps, and when she steps out, they're layered beneath a cozy coat.
Marsai Martin
Age: 16
Profession: Executive producer and actress
Style: Full of bright colors, vibrant prints, and unique cuts, Marsai Martin's style is just as inspirational and creative as she is. Get excited, a fashion brand is on her list of goals.
Gabrielle Union
Age: 48
Profession: Actress
Style: Whatever she wears — whether it's a bright color that packs a punch or an eye-catching graphic print — she always looks as though she's "making a splash."
Shonda Rhimes
Age: 51
Profession: Screenwriter, producer, and author
Style: When she's not busy taking over the television world, Shonda's often seen wearing a classic little black dress. This look, styled with ankle boots, is as sophisticated as it is edgy.
Selita Ebanks
Age: 37
Profession: Model and actress
Style: While she routinely slips into slouchy dresses, like this slitted midi, she'll try any interesting color or playful texture once.
Viola Davis
Age: 55
Profession: Actress and producer
Style: She often translates her How to Get Away With Murder style IRL, slipping into the punchiest suits, but her gowns turn heads. When we see her show up on the scene, we just want to freeze the moment and admire her beauty from every angle.
Iman
Age: 65
Profession: Model and actress
Style: Pants have always been the name of the game for the iconic supermodel, but don't for a second assume them to be boring. From graphic-printed jumpsuits to glitter and tons of leopard, we imagine Iman's closet is what our wildest dreams are made of.
Halle Berry
Age: 54
Profession: Actress and producer
Style: While she loves to wear all black, we'll always imagine Halle rocking jaw-dropping silhouettes like this Halston number, which put her toned tummy on full display.
Amandla Stenberg
Age: 22
Profession: Actress
Style: Aside from being an incredible actress and voice for her generation, Amandla Stenberg is a fashion and beauty icon. Along with her inspiring hair transformations over the years, Amandla is also known for iconic red carpet looks.
Jourdan Dunn
Age: 30
Profession: Model
Style: Jourdan loves to try daring dresses made by the designers whose runways she walks down. She loves a leggy gown, just like this eyelet Burberry number.
Rashida Jones
Age: 44
Profession: Actress, author, and film producer
Style: The hilarious star always exudes a certain effortlessness. While Rashida has experimented with brightly printed gowns, all of her looks have structure, and she can wear the hell out of a tuxedo.
Precious Lee
Age: 31
Profession: Model
Style: Making waves in the fashion industry since she started, Precious Lee was one of the first Black plus-size models to appear in Vogue and was the first Black plus-size model featured in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. When not modeling for brands like Versace or on the covers of magazines like British Vogue, Precious Lee's wardrobe is full of bright colors and bold prints.
Solange Knowles
Age: 34
Profession: Singer and songwriter
Style: When we say that Solange's wardrobe comprises the entire colorwheel, we aren't kidding. Since she's always wearing completely avant-garde designs, this satin Rosie Assoulin pantsuit immediately comes to mind when we think of her bold looks. When it comes to Solange hitting the red carpet, we get the jitters just thinking about what she might wear next.
Taraji P. Henson
Age: 50
Profession: Actress and singer
Style: Even in the prettiest dress, like this memorable Alexander Wang gown, Taraji looks fierce. While she often wears cutouts and formfitting styles, her look is more breathtaking than sexy.
Storm Reid
Age: 17
Profession: Actress
Style: With "fashionista" literally written in her Instagram bio, Storm Reid is a true Gen Z fashion icon. From red carpet gowns to loungewear, the star isn't afraid to play with bold, bright looks.
Lupita Nyong'o
Age: 37
Profession: Actress and film director
Style: The star's outfits are playful, bringing an abundance of color to the red carpet, just as she did with this Elie Saab gown. She enjoys a good princess moment, and you can always tell that whatever she's wearing, she L-O-V-E-S it. Check out her Queen of Katwe tour style here.
Laverne Cox
Age: 48
Profession: Actress and activist
Style: A red carpet chameleon, Laverne wows with a sexy slit one night and switches into an elegant, long-sleeved gown the next. That's fine by us — because there's nothing this beauty can't wear.
Normani
Age: 24
Profession: Singer and dancer
Style: Often seen in long gowns and matching sets, Normani has a knack for coming up with sultry yet elegant outfits.
Aja Naomi King
Age: 36
Profession: Actress
Style: Aja's wardrobe shows that she's not afraid to use color. She lit up the 2016 Met Gala in this simple, yet vibrant Prabal Gurung dress. While she often dons bright, solid colors on the red carpet, she never hesitates to rock a patterned print.
Julia Sarr-Jamois
Age: 32
Profession: Fashion editor
Style: No one makes "cool" look quite as cool as Julia. She's a master at mixing — and predicting — trends, putting her own twist on the pieces you'll later see in mass. With every outfit, she'll make you wonder just how she does it.
TK Wonder and Cipriana Quann
Ages: 31
Professions: Musician; blogger
Style: The sisters are known for their signature locks and natural beauty, but that comes with a fierce dose of style. Often coordinated but never matchy-matchy, the look is edgy with an elevated, fashion-conscious spin.