This ad appeared in Black women’s magazines in 1969. The copy reads:
“These are the girls of Black Beauty—New York’s newest model agency. They weren’t born models. Every girl learned how to coax every lash, every pore into being its most beautiful. Shouldn’t you share the beauty routine that helps make their skin so flawless? Wash with Noxema, as they do, instead of soap. Noxema softens as it cleans. Fights dryness. Rinses clean. Medicates to help clear surface blemishes with an exhilarating tingle. What a way to wash! What a way for girls to look and feel sensational!.”
Black women’s magazines in the 60s, 70s and 80s were quite different from today’s publications. They were filled with images of Black beauty, but the focus was on inner beauty and character, not on physical appearance. The Black women’s magazines in 1969 featured an article which reflects that every woman is beautiful and unique in their own way. It portrays that Black women were beautiful, inside and out, and their beauty should be celebrated.
Today, Black women’s magazines continue to showcase the beauty of Black women, but they have also expanded their focus to include topics such as fashion, relationships, and careers. While the look of Black women’s magazines has changed over the years, their mission remains the same: to celebrate the unique beauty of Black women.
