VOA文化艺术2022--69岁名模重返时装秀

Famous 69-year-old Model Returns to Fashion Show

Many years ago, Beverly Johnson was one of the original "supermodels." She walked on the runways of fashion shows around the world.

Today, Johnson is 69 years old. She is not letting her age stop her from walking the runways again. She has a simple answer for why she decided¹ to return to the fashion world during New York Fashion week: She was asked to.

Johnson, a writer and businesswoman, helped to break barriers for other Black women in the modeling industry. In 1974 at the age of 22, she appeared on the cover of the American Vogue² magazine. This made her that magazine's first Black cover model. She had great success in her modeling career. She became a sought-after face for many years, appearing on the covers of hundreds of magazines.

During this year's Spring New York Fashion Week, Johnson walked the fashion runways for designers Sergio Hudson and Bibhu Mohapatra. She was the last model to walk in the Mohapatra show on February 15. The crowd clapped and cheered when they recognized her.

She wore a white, floor-length dress, called a gown, with a dramatic black cape³. She said that she needed a little practice before the show to get the runway walk right.

"After I took that walking lesson, I was fine. It's a wonderful, beautiful experience," Johnson told The Associated Press after the show.

She said she is moved by today's push for more diversity and respect of different cultures in the fashion industry.

"All of the models were models of color in honor of Black History Month," Johnson said as she started to cry. "In 2024, it (will) be my 50th anniversary of that historic cover of being the first Black woman to grace the cover of American Vogue," she added.

Johnson said Sergio Hudson is a Black designer who is becoming very successful in the fashion industry. "It's just wonderful to see this."

When Johnson was first coming up in the fashion industry in the 1970s, she said she did not see this kind of representation by Black designers or models.

Johnson said she enjoyed spending time with the younger models during this year's New York Fashion Week. She found them "beautiful, elegant, and wonderful."

She noted⁴ one big difference between them and her. And it was not their ages.

"The girls are much taller." In the Hudson show, she said, no model was under 1.8 meters. Back when she was modeling, she said, 1.5 meters was tall enough.

Words in This Story

runway – n. a platform along which models walk in a fashion show

fashion – n. the prevailing⁵ style (as in dress) during a particular time

designer – n. one that creates and manufactures a new product style or design : especially : one who designs and manufactures high-fashion clothing

dramatic – adj. attracting attention

cape – n. a sleeveless outer garment or part of a garment that fits closely at the neck and hangs loosely over the shoulders

diversity – n. the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : especially : the inclusion of people of different races, cultures, etc. in a group or organization

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 Vogue   

n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的

参考例句：

• Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
• Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

3 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 prevailing   

adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的

参考例句：

• She wears a fashionable hair style prevailing in the city.她的发型是这个城市流行的款式。
• This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.这反映了社会上盛行的态度和价值观。