BETHANN HARDISON

Fashion Advocate, Documentarian and Luxury Brand Consultant,
Bethann Management Co. Inc.

Bethann Hardison is a model, documentary filmmaker and activist.
Hardison became one of the first high-profile Black models when she walked in the historic 1973 Battle of Versailles fashion show. She is also the founder of her namesake modelling agency, which has guided the careers of young models with a focus on diversifying the fashion industry. In 1988, alongside model Iman, she founded Black Girls Coalition to advocate for equal pay for Black and minority ethnic models and has garnered accolades including the CFDA’s Founder Award for her advocacy. In 2018 Hardison founded The Designers Hub to guide and empower Black designers; the following year she became an inaugural member of Gucci’s Changemakers Council. Hardison made her directorial debut in 2023 with “Invisible Beauty,” a documentary that chronicles her career and has won awards including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary Film. She serves on the CFDA's Board of Directors and as Gucci's Executive Advisor for Global Equity and Cultural Engagement.