01 · The Founder

Bethann Hardison

Advocate, documentarian, model, muse, with a career spanning over five decades, Bethann Hardison has gone from working in NYC's Garment District, to becoming one of the first Black models favored by European and New York designers, to creative director and producer, to founding her namesake modeling and management agency.

In 1988, she founded the Black Girls Coalition, and in 2013, she spearheaded the launch of the Diversity Coalition, sparking an industry-wide movement for diversity and inclusion. In recognition of her decades of advocacy work, Bethann has received numerous awards, including the CFDA's Founder's Award. In 2018, with the support of the CFDA, she founded The Designers Hub to guide and empower Black designers. The following year, she became an inaugural member of Gucci's Changemakers Council and was appointed Gucci's Executive Advisor for Global Equity and Cultural Engagement. She remained in that role until 2024 and from 2024 to 2025, served in the same capacity at Kering, Gucci's parent company.

Invisible Beauty, a documentary she co-directed with Frédéric Tcheng, marked her directorial debut. Premiering at Sundance in 2023, it has since been featured in over two dozen film festivals and won several awards, including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary. Following an eight-week nationwide theatrical release by Magnolia Pictures, the film is now available on Hulu. Currently, Bethann serves as Founder & Chair of her namesake 501(c)(3) foundation and as a member of the CFDA's Board of Directors.

Bethann Hardison at the Battle of Versailles, 1973, photographed by Bill Cunningham — 1973The Battle of Versailles Photo by Bill Cunningham

Test shoot contact sheet, NYC, c. 1970, photographer unknown — c. 1970Contact Sheet, NYC Photographer unknown

Test shoot contact sheet, Paris, c. 1970, photographed by Pelito Galvez — c. 1970Contact Sheet, Paris Photo by Pelito Galvez

Bethann Hardison and Stephen Burrows at work, mid-1970s, photographed by Ming Smith — c. 1975At Work with Stephen Burrows Photo by Ming Smith

Essence Magazine, October 1974, photographed by Hugh Bell — 1974Essence Magazine Photo by Hugh Bell

Newsweek, May 5, 1975, photographed by Sal Traina and Nancy Crampton — 1975Newsweek Photos by Sal Traina & Nancy Crampton

Bethann Hardison in Paris, 1984, photographed by Arthur Elgort — 1984In Paris Photo by Arthur Elgort

Test shoot in Central Park, NYC, 1969, photographed by Bruce Weber — 1969Central Park, NYC Photo by Bruce Weber

Vogue Italia, 1992, photographed by Steven Meisel — 1992Vogue Italia Photo by Steven Meisel

Black Girls Coalition press conference, 1992, panel view, photographed by Joe Major — 1992Black Girls Coalition Press Conference Photo by Joe Major

Mirabella, July 1990, photographed by Brigitte Lacombe — 1990Mirabella Photo by Brigitte Lacombe

British Vogue, May 2021, photographed by Sharif Hamza — 2021British Vogue Photo by Sharif Hamza

X-Ray, by François Nars, 1999 — 1999X-Ray Photo by François Nars

Portrait of Bethann Hardison, 2001, photographed by Torkil Gudnason — 2001Portrait Photo by Torkil Gudnason

Portrait of Bethann Hardison, 2011, photographed by Romney Mueller-Westernhagen — 2011Portrait Photo by Romney Mueller-Westernhagen

Bethann Hardison, 2015, photographed by Hans Neumann — 2015Portrait Photo by Hans Neumann

2023Invisible Beauty — Official Trailer Directed by Frédéric Tcheng and Bethann Hardison Sundance Film Festival · Magnolia Pictures · Hulu · NAACP Image Award

02 · The Board

Leadership

Executive Director Kristine King Programming, Strategy & Creative

Vice Chair Susan Chokachi Founder & CEO, Chokachi Consulting

Treasurer Stephanie Horton Senior Director, Google Commerce

Secretary Nicole Marra Founder & CEO, Fixer Advisory Group

Directors

Akil WestFounder & CEO, Sole Folks

Antoine PhillipsCulture Builder & Strategy Leader

Kadeem HardisonActor & Director

Kegan WebbCasting Director, Consultant & Creative

Len PeltierGlobal Creative Director & Brand Strategist

Lisa MetcalfeOperational Business Strategist & Consultant, Ten Yards

Todd OldhamAuthor & Founder, Todd Oldham Studio

Tom MendenhallCEO, Stella McCartney

Yeanina ‘Nina’ PutnamPeople and Inclusion, Kering

Advisory Board

Alina ChoJournalist, Producer & Host

Marc JacobsFounder & Designer, Marc Jacobs

Norma KamaliFounder & Designer, Norma Kamali