Next in Mzz Kimberley‘s series of Black History Month Heroes is the first black transgender model to pose for both Vogue & Clairol, Tracey Norman.
Tracey Norman (1951 – Present)
Tracey Norman, originally from Newark, New Jersey, modelled for Essence, Vogue Italia and Harper’s Bazaar. Norman also had a magazine cover and life story spread in New York Magazine. Tracey had a successful modelling career in New York City the mid- to late-70s. In addition to her magazine work, Tracey had a contract with Avon and her own Clairol box.
Legendary fashion photographer Irving Penn himself called modelling agency, Zoli, on her behalf and recommended her. Tracey was signed and quickly started working on shoots for catalogues as well as Essence magazine.
By the mid-70s with Clairol, they created a shade – Dark Auburn, Box 512 – modelled after her real hair sold it for six years. At the time, it was their ‘hottest-selling box’.
She knew how careful she had to be, though. She didn’t fraternize too much outside of work, and used duct tape to help disguise her body, since she’d frequently have to change in front of other people. She had other tricks, too, that she won’t reveal.
In 1980, while on a photo-shoot with Essence magazine, the assistant to her hairdresser, André Douglas, found out about her birth gender and told the editor, Susan Taylor, who was also on the set. Due to the outrage and because it was not socially acceptable, her photos were not published, and no company would work with her any longer. It was at this point she knew that her modelling career had ended. After the difficult time, she decided to move to Paris. There she was able to sign a 6-month contract with Balenciaga. Once that contract ended, Norman found a lack of work in Milan and moved back to New York where she signed with Grace del Marco Agency. This agency didn’t give her much work and Norman accepted that her modelling career was basically over. She ended up taking a job at Show Centre, where she performed in a burlesque peep show for trans women. Ever since she has been active in the drag ball community
After a biographical piece was written about Norman in December 2015 by New York Magazine’s digital fashion site The Cut, Clairol reached out to Norman and in 2016 announced that Norman would become the face of their Nice ‘n Easy Color ‘As Real As You Are’ campaign. Clairol global associate brand director Heather Carruthers stated that the company was ‘honoured to bring back Tracey Norman as a woman who no longer has to hide her truth.’ The campaign focused on the ‘confidence that comes from embracing what makes you unique and using natural color to express yourself freely.’ In 2016 Norman and Geena Rocero became the first two openly transgender models to appear on the cover of an edition of Harper’s Bazaar.
Watch Black America’s interview with Tracey below.
