Amina Warsuma
Amina Warsuma (born 1953) is an American model, author, actress and film maker.
Amina Warsuma | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 New York City New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | model / author |
| Years active | 1970-present |
Early life[]
Warsuma was born in the Bronx, New York to a Somali father and an American mother.[1]
Education[]
Warsuma graduated with an ASS degree from Monroe College in business in Bronx, New York. Warsuma attended UCLA for Television pilot writing class. Warsuma attained a degree in Cinema Production and Producing from LACC Cinema and Television Department in Los Angeles [2]
Career[]
Battle of Versailles[]
Warsuma was one of eleven black models that ran in the Battle of Versailles Fashion Show. The Fashion Show was held in 1973 at the Palace of Versailles raising $280,000 for the restoration of the palace. The other black models were Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison, Billie Blair, , Alva Chinn, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Barbara Jackson, China Machado and Ramona Saunder. The show pitted five established French designers against five emerging American designers.[3]
The show use of eleven African-American models was unprecedented at the time and marked a new direction in fashion runways.[3]
Awards[]
In 2011, Warsuma alongside the other ten African-Americans models received the Huffington Post Game Changer Awards for their role in the Battle of Versailles Fashion Show. The award was presented by Gayle King.[4]
The Metropolitan Museum of Art honoured Warsuma and the other 10 models in 2011 with a special luncheon.[5]
References[]
- ^ Givhan, Robin (2015). The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History. New York: Flatiron Books. p. 153. ISBN 1250052904.
- ^ "Amina Warsuma | The Huffington Post". www.huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- ^ a b Force, Thessaly La (2015-05-01). "'The Battle of Versailles,' by Robin Givhan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- ^ Wilson, Julee (2011-10-19). "The Versailles Models of 1973 Honored At HuffPost Game Changers Awards Last Night". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- ^ "The Models of Versailles 1973 Tribute Luncheon". The Metropolitan Museum of Art, i.e. The Met Museum. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- 1953 births
- Living people
- Female models from New York (state)
- Los Angeles City College alumni
- American writers
- American actresses
- 21st-century American women