Ranking of the Most Financially Successful Dark-skinned Female Fashion Models Globally in 2025
In the ever-evolving world of fashion, diversity is no longer a buzzword but a celebrated reality. The industry is witnessing a significant shift, with Black women making their mark and breaking barriers in the realm of high fashion. Here are some of the trailblazing figures who have redefined beauty standards and paved the way for a more inclusive industry.
Tyra Banks, an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress, has been a significant figure in the entertainment industry since her debut. She made history by becoming the first Black American woman to grace the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Banks is also known for creating and hosting the hit show "America's Next Top Model," and she is the founder of her own production company, Bankable Productions.
Alton Mason, a male model with Jamaican, Guinean, and Haitian ancestry, has quickly become one of the most in-demand male models in the world. Known for his captivating presence and dynamic walk, Mason has walked for a wide range of prestigious designers, highlighting the increasing diversity in the menswear industry.
Precious Lee, an American model, has played a significant role in broadening the definition of beauty in the high fashion industry. She became the first African American curve model to work with brands like Versace, Moschino, and Fendi, demonstrating that beauty can be found in all sizes and thereby shattering conventional norms of the fashion industry.
As of 2025, the top 10 highest-paid Black female models include the following individuals, along with some of their notable accomplishments:
1. Jourdan Dunn: Known for being one of the first Black models to walk for top designers like Dior and Chanel, she has been featured in numerous campaigns for brands like Burberry and has appeared on the covers of top fashion magazines.
2. Leomie Anderson: The founder of the fashion brand LAPP, which includes a clothing line and a platform for models to voice their experiences in the industry, Anderson has walked for top designers and appeared in several fashion editorials.
3. Tyra Banks: A veteran model and television personality, Banks is known for creating and hosting the hit show "America's Next Top Model." She is also a successful businesswoman with her own production company, Bankable Productions.
4. Anok Yai: Known for being one of the first Black models to open a Prada fashion show since Dior's Naomi Campbell in the 1990s, Yai has been featured in campaigns for top brands like Prada and has appeared on the covers of numerous fashion magazines.
5. Naomi Campbell: A supermodel and one of the most successful models of all time, Campbell is known for her fierce runway presence and her advocacy for diversity in fashion. She has been a long-time face of top brands and has appeared in countless fashion campaigns.
6. Winnie Harlow: Known for her unique look and her advocacy for body positivity, as well as her appearance on "America's Next Top Model," Harlow has walked for top designers and appeared in several fashion campaigns.
7. Khoudia Diop: Known for her striking features and advocacy for skin positivity, Diop has been featured in several fashion campaigns and has appeared in editorial spreads.
8. Alek Wek: Known for her unique look and her influence in the fashion industry by challenging traditional beauty standards, Wek has been a long-time model for top brands and has appeared on numerous fashion covers.
9. Noemie Lenoir: Known for her diverse career in modeling and acting, Lenoir has appeared in several campaigns for top brands and has been a face of several beauty brands.
10. Adjani: A model and social media influencer known for her striking features and growing influence in the fashion industry, Adjani's career is marked by appearances in fashion editorials and campaigns for emerging brands.
Adut Akech, born in a refugee camp in Kenya, has become one of the most recognizable faces in the fashion industry, collaborating with designers such as Pierpaolo Piccioli of Valentino and opening shows for Chanel. Maria Borges made history at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show by becoming the first model to walk the runway with her natural, short afro, challenging conventional beauty standards in the industry. Anok Yai, born in Cairo, Egypt, and raised in the United States, is a supermodel who rose to fame quickly, becoming the second Black model to open a Prada show and a highly sought-after face in high fashion.
Naomi Campbell, one of the first "supermodels," is a British icon who broke barriers of race by becoming the first Black model to be featured on the covers of Time, British, and French volumes of Vogue. She established "Fashion for Relief" to raise money for people affected by natural disasters around the world.
Leomie Anderson, a British model, entrepreneur, and social activist, was discovered at McDonald's when she was 14 years old. She is the founder of LAPP The Brand and has hosted the reality make-up competition series "Glow Up." Maria Borges is a powerful voice for authenticity and representation in the fashion industry, working with designers such as Givenchy, Tom Ford, and Balmain.
These models have achieved success through their notable fashion campaigns, runway appearances, and advocacy for diversity in the industry. However, specific earnings figures for these models in 2025 are not detailed in the available data.
Tyra Banks' influence extends beyond the fashion-and-beauty industry, as she also excels in entertainment, having created and hosted America's Next Top Model and founded her own production company, Bankable Productions. Meanwhile, celebrities like Leomie Anderson and Maria Borges are not just models; they are entrepreneurs and social activists, using their influence to promote change and diversity within pop-culture.
