The Color of Beauty
Ophelia DeVore boldly overcame tragedy and hardship to become the first black model in the United States of America. She possessed grace, finesse, intelligence, natural beauty, and courage. Being the first black graduate of the Vogue Modeling School, she eventually became a powerful business mogul, an exuberant entrepreneur, and a respected leader in her field. Her story is unique because she redefined “beauty” in America. Throughout her life, she sought to prove to the world beauty could be found in every shade of color. The Ophelia DeVore Charm School and Grace Del Marco Modeling Agency served as a strong foundation for notables including Diahann Carroll, Richard Roundtree, Trudy Haynes, Helen Williams, Cicely Tyson, Susan Taylor, Audrey Smaltz and many more. She regularly worked with fashion icons such as Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, and Ceil Chapman. In a personal letter written on July 17, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., thanked DeVore for being a part of “the great democratic crusade of our era.” Her inspirational story will move you to believe in yourself and achieve your dreams.
The Color of Beauty Curriculum
The Color of Beauty Curriculum is based on author Alina Mitchell's book, The Color of Beauty: The Life and Work of New York Fashion Icon Ophelia DeVore. This book chronicles the life of Ophelia DeVore, an extraordinary woman who left an incredible mark in the world of high-fashion and American history by becoming the first Black model, redefining American beauty for minorities, and paving the way for contemporary supermodels of color. Many notable celebrities including Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Beah Richards, Richard Roundtree, Helen Williams, Audrey Smaltz, and more attended the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and Grace del Marco Modeling Agency in New York. Designed for 9-12th graders, The Color of Beauty Curriculum guides educators, home-school parents, youth & book club leaders, and more through creative lessons aligned to Common Core English and The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards, as well as the CASEL Social-Emotional Learning competencies. The engaging and thought-provoking activities found in the lessons are perfect for traditional and remote learning settings. Literature concepts are presented in exciting interactive ways including technology such as digital pinboarding, 3D prototyping, podcasting, augmented/virtual reality, and more. Differentiated instruction recommendations are also included. This comprehensive guide will evoke powerful dialogue and foster an atmosphere for meaningful learning!
Every Inch A Lady: A Memoir From Fashion Icon Audrey Smaltz by Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell
Reminiscent of style icon Iris Apfel's New York Times bestseller Accidental Icon and echoes of Andre Leon Talley’s The Chiffon Trenches comes the entertaining and thoughtful long-awaited memoir from the irrepressible groundbreaking fashion powerhouse Audrey Smaltz.
There has never been, nor will there ever be anyone like Audrey Smaltz. Towering six-feet-tall (her superpower) since she was a teenager in Harlem, she has always stood out from the crowd.
Smaltz’s details her colorful journey as a groundbreaking model, Wall Street broker, department store dynamo, fashion coordinator, commentator, editor, and entrepreneur. With her creative vision and business acumen earning her the support of legendary designers and brands such as Giorgio Armani, Jason Wu, Donna Karan, Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Stephen Burrows, and Vera Wang.
Reflecting on significant people and moments in her life Smaltz’s reveals how she managed to balance life, racism, and the obstacles in her marriage to former WNBA and Olympic silver medalist Gail Marquis.
Forthright and contemplative, Every Inch a Lady is a long-overdue life reckoning from a cultural powerhouse and one of the most important style figures in modern times.
The Holloway Society of Young Detectives by Isaac Perry and Alina Mitchell (In development)
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