Veronica Webb
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Veronica Webb (born February 25, 1965) is an African-American model, actress, writer, journalist and television personality. Veronica Webb appeared on covers of Vogue, Essence and Elle magazines and on the runway for Victoria's Secret and Chanel.
As a runway model she was in demand to be photographed wearing fashions from the collections of Azzedine Alaia, Isaac Mizrahi, Karl Lagerfeld, and Todd Oldham.[1] Alaia and Lagerfeld became her friends. She learned French (language) from the former, whom she moved in with for almost a year.[2]
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[edit] Early life
Webb was born in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in a working class community. Her father was an electrician at the tank division of Chrysler. Her mom was a nurse at Detroit General Hospital. One of Webb's sisters became an oncologist[2] and another is a mathematician. Webb dropped out of art school to become a model.[3]
As a youth Webb looked at magazines and admired the freedom of women who were involved in the fashion industry. Models controlled the way they appeared while other women did not. She enjoyed comic books and dreamed of becoming an animator. She identified with characters in comics who usually came from ordinary places. Webb understood that superheroes first fantasized intensely prior to being placed into a fantastic situation. At which point they realize they have superpower.[2]
[edit] Career
She moved to New York City to earn her college degree and was discovered on the streets by a New York makeup artist.[3] In New York, Webb pursued a modeling career and eventually became a spokesmodel for Revlon. She was the first black supermodel to win an exclusive contract for a major cosmetics company.[4] In 1985 Webb made her feature film debut in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" Her film credits include “Animal Husbandry,” “The Big Tease” and Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” and “Jungle Fever.” She has also been featured in a recurring role on the television show “Damon” and has appeared in “Just Shoot Me,” and “Clueless”. She admits that comedy comes much easier for her than drama.[3]
Webb credits as a broadcaster include "Good Morning America", Vogue magazine's syndicated style show "Trend Watch". Veronica has also been named on American Vogue's best dressed list three times.
She served as editor-at-large of Interview magazine, and was also monthly columnist for Paper Magazine, New York City's style guide to downtown cool, for five years. Veronica wrote a weekly column on American culture in Panorama, Italy’s popular weekly news magazine, and has contributed as a writer for Details, Elle, The Sunday Times (UK) and The New York Times Syndicate. Webb was recently added as a contributing editor for Conde Nast's Cookie magazine a lifestyle guide redefining modern motherhood. Esquire (magazine) commissioned her to write an essay on cigars after she did a photo shoot with the publication with Regis Philbin. The periodical's editors were interested that she enjoyed brainy, self-made men, who enjoyed smoking cigars.[1]
In 1998 Miramax Books published Veronica Webb Sight: Adventures In The Big City. The volume is a remembrance of her life with a collection of her essays. Harvey Weinstein approached her while she was in line at the White House about publishing her essays and memoir. He had been a fan of her writing for some time. In the book Webb is especially frank about both her naivety and arrogance as a youth.[3]
Ms. Webb dedicates her time to several charitable organizations: LIFEBeat, Product Red and the RPM Nautical Foundation. She is married to George Robb and they have 2 daughters together: Leila Rose Robb and Molly Blue Robb. They live in the Florida Keys.
Webb can currently be seen as a co-host on Bravo's Tim Gunn's Guide To Style. Eric Wilson wrote in the New York Times Style section that as the co-host of Bravo TV's Tim Gunn's Guide To Style. Veronica Webb is "Saving humanity one make-over at a time." This Christmas Webb plays a high powered fashion editor opposite Rockman Dunbar in the independent feature film "Dirty Laundry".
[edit] Partial filmography
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b More Than A Pretty Face, New York Times, June 19, 1994, pg. V1.
- ^ a b c Model, Michael Gross (writer), William Morrow and Company, 1995, pgs. 443-448.
- ^ a b c d Odds And Ends, Five Questions, European Stars and Stripes (newspaper), May 24, 1998, pg. 85.
- ^ Veronica Webb - Fashion Model. Accessed 2007-12-22.
