Beverly Johnson

Beverly Ann Johnson (born October 13, 1952) is an American model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. Johnson rose to fame when she became the first Black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue in August 1974, after Donyale Luna was the first Black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1966. In 2012, Johnson was the star of the reality series Beverly's Full House that aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In 2008, The New York Times named Johnson one of the 20th century's most influential people in fashion.

Early life, family and education Born the first of two children to Gloria Johnson, a surgical technician, Johnson was raised in a middle-class family in Buffalo, New York. During her youth, Johnson was a champion swimmer and aspired to be a lawyer.

Johnson attended Bennett High School, graduating in 1969. She went on to appear on more than 500 magazine covers, including the August 1974 issue of Vogue, becoming the magazine's first African-American cover model for the US edition, after Donyale Luna's 1966 British Vogue cover.

Johnson appeared on the cover of Vogue again in June 1975 for their "American Woman" issue, and by then had also become a runway model for the designer Halston. By 1977, she had appeared on the covers of about 25 magazines, including 14 for Glamour, and was the first Black woman to appear solo on the cover of Elle. and True Beauty: Secrets of Radiant Beauty for Women of Every Age and Color. Johnson's acting career consists of roles in the films Ashanti (1979), The Meteor Man (1993), Def Jam's How to Be a Player (1997), and Crossroads (2002). She has appeared in guest spots on 7 television series, including Martin (TV series), Law & Order, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Parent 'Hood and the Super Bowl episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun (1998). She served for two seasons as a celebrity judge on the TV Land series She's Got the Look, a reality series, where women aged over 35 compete for a modeling contract and magazine spread. At the start of the series in 2008, Johnson shared that she and other models had suffered from anorexia and bulimia during her career. She had a brief singing career, releasing one album in 1979 on Buddah Records. Johnson has been a longtime hair and beauty influencer.

In 1987 Johnson and her daughter participated in AIDS Awareness Campaign advertisements.

Memoir and accusation against Bill Cosby

In late 2014, she wrote an article for Vanity Fair in which she accused Bill Cosby of drugging her in a meeting at his Manhattan residence in the 1980s, although the incident did not result in a sexual assault. Johnson said that Cosby spiked a cup of cappuccino with an unknown drug. As she felt her "body go completely limp," she realized what was happening. Johnson said she then screamed and cursed at him several times before Cosby got angry and dragged her outside and hailed a cab for her. Johnson decided to tell her story in hopes that "by going public" she would "encourage anyone [who] has been sexually victimized to speak out." Her memoir, The Face That Changed It All, which discusses the Cosby incident, was released on August 25, 2015.

Subsequently, Cosby started a defamation lawsuit against Johnson, stating that she was lying about the drugging incident and contending that Johnson's story, first told in the Vanity Fair article, had been repeated in numerous interviews. The lawsuit sought unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent Johnson from repeating her claims and to require her to remove them from her memoir. Cosby dropped the lawsuit on February 19, 2016, allegedly to devote more time to his criminal case.

Personal life Johnson has been married thrice. Her first marriage was to real estate agent Billy Potter in 1971, later divorcing in 1974. On May 8, 1977, Johnson, then aged 25, married 40-year-old businessman and music producer Danny Sims. She gave birth to their daughter, Anansa Sims on December 27, 1978, in New York City. She filed a restraining order against Noth, accusing him of physical, verbal and racial abuse.

On January 13, 2023, Johnson married her longtime partner, Brian Maillian, a successful financier, Chairman and CEO of Whitestone Global Partners LLC. She was inducted as an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority on July 13, 2025.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 Deadly Hero - 1977 The Baron Receptionist 1978 Crisis in Sun Valley Beverly TV movie 1979 Ashanti Dr. Anansa Linderby 1980 The Sky Is Gray John Lee's Mother TV movie 1993 Loaded Weapon 1 Doris Luger The Meteor Man Woman Doctor The Cover Girl Murders Michaela TV movie A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives Jane Marlowe Morrison TV movie 1994 A Brilliant Disguise Barbara 1995 Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder Alana Durand TV movie 1996 Crossworlds The Queen 1997 Def Jam's How to Be a Player Robin True Vengeance Lt. Kada Wilson Video 1998 54 Elaine's Patron 2000 Down 'n Dirty Sandra Collins 2002 Crossroads Kit's Mother 2012 Good Deeds Brenda

Television Year Title Role Notes 1979 The American Sportsman Herself Episode: "Paul Newman Auto Racing, Bert Jones Geese Hunting" 1989 Saturday Night Live Herself Episode: "Leslie Nielsen/Cowboy Junkies" 1990 Hunter Allistar Lang Episode: "This Is My Gun" 1992 It's Showtime at the Apollo Herself/Guest Host Episode: "Episode #5.17" Law & Order Salamotu Episode: "Consultation" 1993 Martin Ms. Trinidad Episode: "Blackboard Jungle Fever" Out All Night Lorraine Episode: "The Way We Were" Law & Order Marcela Di Portago Episode: "Black Tie" 1994 An Evening at the Improv Herself/Host Episode: "Episode #14.10" The Mommies Herself Episode: "The Exercist" Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Mrs. Cox Recurring Cast: Season 1 1995 Mad TV Herself Episode: "Episode #1.2" The Wayans Bros. Miss Kita Episode: "I'm Too Sexy for My Brother" 1996 The Parent 'Hood Mrs. Jordan Episode: "I'm O'Tay, You're O-Tay" Arli$$ Herself Episode: "The Client's Best Interest" Red Shoe Diaries Lorri Episode: "The Forbidden Zone" 1997 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Episode: "Margaux Hemingway" Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Fashion Director Episode: "As Westbridge Turns" 1998 3rd Rock from the Sun Prell Episode: "36! 24! 36! Dick!: Part 1 & 2" 2004 Girlfriends Herself Episode: "Leggo My Ego" 2005 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Episode: "Janice Dickinson" 2005–12 America's Next Top Model Herself Recurring Guest 2008–10 She's Got the Look Herself/Judge Main Judge 2010 Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns Kate Episode: "Meet the Other Man" & "Meet the Old Fling" 2011 RuPaul's Drag U Herself/Judge Episode: "Bringing Sexy Back" 2012 Beverly's Full House Herself Main Cast 2013 Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Beverly Johnson/Charlene Tilton/Jimmy Wayne" 2019 American Style Herself Episode: "Born to Be Wild" & "Material World"

Discography Albums Don't Lose The Feeling (1979)

Singles "Don't Lose The Feeling" (1979) "Don't Run for a Cover" (1979)