Image courtesy of Instagram
Shailah Edmonds is one of those top model voices that should be heard louder. We should be shouting from the rooftops her name and her model story. In a world where models achieve fame from being on reality television and shows and from the reach and depth of their social media proliferation, Shailah Edmonds is one of those rare black models that achieve her success and enduring presence through dogged hard work and perseverance.
Though her beauty is a given, and her height 6`0 was a revelation in the 1970s, her fashion career did not come easy. And her short film, “A Star Alone,” based on her best-selling bio From Wild Child to Couture Style, currently playing at the New York Short Film Festival through Thursday, November 13, gives a small glimpse into her model journey.
Discovered in the early 70s by a black model agent, a career in fashion as a model was not on Shailah’s radar, especially with two small children and a husband. But Shailah took the challenge head on, walking in fashion shows in Washington, DC before heading to New York City.
Image courtesy of fashionreverie.com
After failing to get representation in New York City, on the advice of a photographer friend, Shailah headed to Germany and quickly found success. Milan, Paris, and Tokyo were the next fashion conquests with Shailah riding the wave for several decades, walking for Yves Saint Laurent, Nina Ricci, Givenchy, Dior, Valentino, Versace, Armani, and many others.
“A Star Alone” gives a brief sneak peek into Shailah Edmonds’ fashion journey from an adventurous teenager to a glamorous top model. What an exciting trajectory!!
William S. Gooch
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