Darine Stern
Darine Amber Stern | |
|---|---|
 Stern on the cover of the October 1971 issue of Playboy magazine | |
| Born | November 16, 1947 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | February 5, 1994 (aged 46) Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Chicago State University |
| Occupation | Model |
| Years active | 1966-1994 |
| Known for | the first African-American model featured on the cover of Playboy magazine by herself, Oct 1971 issue |
| Spouse(s) | David Ray
(m. 1970, divorced) |
| Modeling information | |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
Darine Stern (November 16, 1947 – February 5, 1994)[1][2] was an American model and the first African-American model featured on the cover of Playboy magazine by herself.
Biography[]
Stern was the first black woman to appear by herself on the cover of Playboy magazine in the October 1971 issue.
Her appearance followed Jean Bell who was featured on the magazine's January 1970 cover, though with four other models.
She began her career in the late 1960s as a 'Playboy Bunny' serving cocktails at the Playboy Club on Walton Street in the Gold Coast section of Chicago. There she acquired various well known admirers and her soon-to-be-husband, David Ray.[3]
After marrying Ray, she settled into the role of being a dentist's wife, and stepmother to Ray's son. She had various jobs in advertising, hostessing, and bank telling. That changed when a photographer visiting her bank asked to take her photograph, images which subsequently came to the attention of the Playboy editorial team.
Following her cover on Playboy, Stern went on to become a high-profile model, being represented by Ford Models, Nina Blanchard, Ellen Harth and Shirley Hamilton Models of Chicago and New York, even doing some European runways. After a short time in Los Angeles, she returned to Chicago to work as a fashion director, image consultant and costume designer.
She created Darine Stern Agency to foster the careers of emerging models.[3]
She died on February 5, 1994, due to complications of breast cancer.[2]
References[]
- ^ "Social Security Death Index [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
- ^ a b "Darine Stern, Former Fashion Model". Chicago Sun-Times. 1994-02-10. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02.
- ^ a b Jerkins, Morgan. "What Happened to Playboy's First Black Cover Girl?". Zora. Medium. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
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- 1994 deaths
- 1947 births
- African-American Playboy Playmates
- 1970s Playboy Playmates
- African-American female models
- 20th-century African-American women
- 20th-century African-American people
- 20th-century American people
- American model stubs