Before the '90s, it was extremely rare for a black woman to be signed to a major cosmetics company. The women pictured here are many of the first black women to achieve this feat, pioneers of style who have parlayed their grace and fame into dollars. We salute this diverse array of gorgeous women who have played the politics of beauty, and taken it all the way to the bank.
Top Beauty Endorsers
Rihanna is one of the newest faces of CoverGirl cosmetics. She signed on in December of 2006, stating: "I've loved makeup and dreamed of being a CoverGirl since I was a little girl." She has also recently endorsed Venus razors for women.
VALERY HACHE/AFP, Getty Images
Beyonce represents for L'Oreal. The singer signed a five-year contract for $4.7 million in 2004 that requires her to work 10-12 days a year. I, too would be smiling.
Carlo Allegri, Getty Images
Gabrielle Union signed on to endorse Neutrogena products in 2004. Great skin is the foundation of stunning beauty, and she proves it.
Seth Browarnik, WireImage.com
Halle Berry has been a Revlon spokesperson since 1996. Other women of color featured in Relvon campaigns include Lucy Liu and Eva Mendes, but none other has had Halle's staying power.
Francois Mori, AP
Kerry Washington has appeared in ads for H.I.P. (High Intensity Pigment) cosmetics for L'Oreal, the first campaign in her contract. Kerry says of her endorsement: "It's really exciting for me to be one of the faces of L'Oreal and to be working with a company that has historically represented so many different kinds of women with different kinds of skin color."
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
Queen Latifah has her own make-up line called the 'CoverGirl Queen Collection.' The Web site for her line features tools to help you match colors perfectly with your skin.
J. Vespa, WireImage.com
Iman, after thirty years in the fashion and beauty biz, now has her own super-successful make-up line: Iman Cosmetics. Launched in 1994, her line features foundation available in 16 shades geared towards women of color.
Iman Cosmetics
Veronica Webb was the first black model to receive an exclusive contract from a major cosmetics company. Her Revlon contract lasted from 1992-95. You can now find her flexing her fashion expertise as a co-host on 'Tim Gunn's Guide To Style.'
Tana Lee Alves, WireImage.com
Iman (left), Beverly Johnson (right) and Louise Vyent (not pictured) appeared in a ground-breaking ad for Revlon in 1989 featuring all black models. Before the '90s, black models rarely appeared in make-up ads for mainstream lines.
Ron Galella, WireImage.com
Tyra won a CoverGirl make-up contract in 1997. This is also the year that she covered Sports Illustrated by herself, a first for an African-American woman.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
Gallery by Alexis Stodghill, Jyothy Karat, Photo Editor
1. Do you notice that all of models are of the light-skinned variety. Hardly a representation of the Black community.
marilyn at 9:21AM on May 7th 2008