Hidden Figures: Helen Williams (Patreon)

Hidden Figures: Helen Williams

Helen Williams Jackson is an American model. Working as a stylist in a New York photographer's studio, Williams was discovered at age 17 by celebrity clients such as Lena Horne and Sammy Davis, Jr. Her career began as an exclusive model for magazines such as Ebony and Jet. However, the discrimination she faced in the United States led her to relocate to France in 1960, where she found success modeling for designers such as Christian Dior. She returned to the U.S. in 1961 and despite initial roadblocks went on to be the face of major ad campaigns by brands such as Budweiser and Sears. She was one of the first clients of Ophelia DeVore's Grace De Marco modeling agency. Helen Williams Jackson has been credited with helping to break down racial barriers in modeling. In 2004, she was the recipient of the Trailblazer Award by the Fashion & Arts Xchange organization at a ceremony at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. Helen retired from modeling in 1970, but continued her career in fashion as a stylist. She married Norm Jackson in 1977, whom she had met during her modeling days. They reside in Riverton, New Jersey. #HiddenFigures #HelenWilliams ****************** Merchandise! MAKE SURE U GETTA SHIRT!! https://www.teepublic.com/user/sssseren Follow me on social media! Instagram: @sensei_aishitemasu Personal Tumblr: http://sensei-aishitemasu.tumblr.com Tumblr for my work: https://sssseren.tumblr.com Snapchat: sssseren GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/tc5wh7q Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seren_sensei ****************** Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture' Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6 Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6 Digital download (e-book): https://gumroad.com/l/IkUa ****************** Links: Helen Williams: The First Black Supermodel (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kj1-uv6rt8 Interview with Helen Williams (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo-JiS9Aq1g 'HELEN WILLIAMS - CELEBRATING AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK MODEL:' http://www.stalletto.com/helen-williams/ 'Too Black For America: 1950's Beauty Helen Williams - The First African American Fashion Model:' http://www.arogundade.com/helen-williams-the-first-black-female-fashion-model.html Helen Williams (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Williams_(model)