Tag: Beverly Johnson

What woman worth her weight in fashion magazines from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, (even the 2000’s) doesn’t remember trailblazing supermodel Beverly Johnson gracing the pages and many of the covers of every top magazine?

The answer is none! 

As a former fashion magazine junkie I remember her well.  She was a super model and I thought she was super stunning – she still is. 

Johnson rose to fame when she made world history by becoming  the first black model to grace the cover of American Vogue and French Elle in 1974, forever changing the beauty ideal in the fashion world.

During her long career she managed to grace over 500 magazine covers and remains one of the most iconic figures in the world of fashion and modeling.

Now she’s coming to Palm Springs for the World Premiere of her one woman show “Beverly Johnson, NAKED.”  Presented by Palm Springs Women in Film and Television and the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

Co-written by Johnson and *Joshua Ravetch, Naked! tells Johnson’s story beginning with her ground breaking photo on the cover of Vogue Magazine. This empowering live performance will take place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on June 2nd at 6pm.

“Her life took an unexpected turn when she broke her silence, went public, and revealed that she, too, was drugged by Bill Cosby,” said Josh Ravetch, director of the show. That disclosure became part of the key momentum that, in-part, helped to launch the #MeToo movement.

Johnson remains one of the most influential African-Americans in America. Named as one of the “20th Century’s 100 Most Influential People in the Fashion Industry” by The New York Times and listed as Oprah Winfrey’s “25 top legends.”

Her impact is truly worldwide but she’s also an acclaimed author, actress, media icon, businesswoman, loving mother and grandmother.

Her most notable and personal testament is imparted in her 2015 memoir, “The Face That Changed It All,” a New York Times Best Seller. Devoted to sharing her luxury taste with her audience, BEVERLY JOHNSON LUXURY LIFESTYLE BRAND is dedicated to present the finest of beauty, health, fashion, home and lifestyle.

In 2016, Johnson was honored by The Palm Springs Walk of Stars with the 405th Star Dedication award.

I was really looking forward to seeing the show and also meeting her.  However, I’ll have left Palm Springs before the time her show arrives here in June. Hopefully I’ll get another chance.

In good company – (taken from Eventbrite, Palm Springs Cultural Center):

*Joshua Ravetch is best known for his collaboration with actress/writer Carrie Fisher, co-creating and directing her in The Geffen Playhouse’s world premiere of Wishful Drinking, Ms. Fisher’s smash-hit one-woman-show. The play enjoyed an extended run on Broadway at Studio 54 and was adapted into a special for HBO. Mr. Ravetch was collaborating with Ms. Fisher to the sequel to Wishful Drinking: Wishful Drinking Strikes Back, a Geffen Playhouse commission, at the time of her passing.

Also at The Geffen playhouse, Ravetch co-wrote and directed Dick Van Dyke in his first-ever one-man show, Step in Time! A Musical Memoir. In the show, Van Dyke took audiences to the rooftops of London for a magical journey from Mary Poppins to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang including hilarious moments from th Dick Van Dyke Show involving a certain ottoman.

Palm Springs Women in Film & Television (PSWIFT ) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2001, dedicated to empowering, promoting, educating and nurturing its members – both women and men – involved in the entertainment, communication and media industries.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to incubate, produce and encourage arts and cultural programs in order to leverage the unique power of creativity to open minds, bridge what divides us, and discover what connects us. As an organization, The Palm Springs Cultural Center is also at the forefront of recognizing the interconnection between the cultural arts and food culture, and their combined importance to the vitality, collective consciousness and sustainability of the community.

For tickets to the show: