Carol LaBrie

Carol LaBrie Rose (December 27, 1946 – February 18, 2021) was an American model, dancer, and actress. She is recognized as the first African American model to appear on the cover of Vogue Italia in 1971. LaBrie began her career as a dancer before transitioning into modeling, later becoming associated with Andy Warhol's circle as a Warhol superstar. She was also a muse to fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez and fashion designer Kenzō Takada, appearing frequently in their creative work.

Biography Carol LaBrie was born to Sears LaBrie and Wilda Simien in El Cerrito, California on December 27, 1946.

Her sister Alice LaBrie Hille was a television producer who was married to radio personality Hal Jackson.

LaBrie decided to leave her Wall Street secretarial job and relocated to Los Angeles, where she began dancing at the popular nightclub Whiskey-a-Go-Go. She had previously taken ballet for seven years. In 1967, she was booked as a dancer at the Tropicana in Las Vegas.

LaBrie gave up her career as a dancer and began modeling again with the assistance of film director Bob Rafelson. They were married the very next day. She appeared on the cover of the October 1970 issue of Essence magazine.

In 1970, LaBrie was part of pop artist Andy Warhol's ensemble of superstars. She appeared in his film L'Amour (1972), which was filmed in Paris in the fall of 1970. LaBrie was also slated to star in a movie that Warhol had planned to produce about Walt Whitman set during the Civil War.

LaBrie and Raysse were photographed by Francesco Scavullo for the March 1970 edition of Harper's Bazaar. LaBrie became the first Black model to appear on the cover of Vogue Italia when she was featured in the magazine's July/August 1971 edition.

LaBrie had difficulty with bookings because of her fair complexion so she moved to Paris and became one of "Antonio's Girls," a muse of Puerto Rican illustrator Antonio Lopez. She taught him English and modeled exclusively for his brand "JAP."

After divorcing Raysse, LaBrie married photographer Uli Rose and they had four children.

LaBrie had a minor role in the French film Body of My Enemy (1976), but she gave up her modeling and film career to focus on being a housewife and mother. "Modeling was not my greatest joy... Models have to have other goals and ideals, to do something and help other people. Be a role model. Be beautiful, be Black, but be what you are because you're beautiful as you are," she said.

LaBrie died at the age of 75 in New Lebanon, New York on February 18, 2021.

Filmography

1972: L'Amour 1976: Body of My Enemy