Recently, my 14 year-old niece, Briana, gave a speech about me in her public speaking class. I was so touched by her kind and thoughtful words that I wanted to share them with all of the fans of Beverly's Full House.



Thousands of little girls dream of being famous and beautiful, and the girl on the front of every magazine. I know someone who lived in a time where this was only a dream to black girls, but she made it a lifestyle. Now she's living in Palm Springs and has her own television show called, Beverly's Full House on OWN. She gave beauty a different appearance, a black appearance, which people weren't used to at the time, but they loved it. Not to say it was easy, because it definitely wasn't. She was a model and then black girls were everything but beautiful. So imagine being told that you were too dark or too fat go-see after go-see. That did numbers to her self-esteem, yet she overcame her insecurities and became one of the best African-American models in the world. This woman's name is Beverly Johnson and her talent changed the world.

Beverly Johnson was born October 13, 1952 in Buffalo, New York. Her mother Gloria Johnson and father Timothy Johnson raised her along with five children. (Darren Johnson, Joanne Richardson, Beverly Johnson, Sheilah Wright, and Leon Johnson). One day in the city with her sister Sheilah, a woman stopped her and told her that she was stunning and gave her a card with a number and, sooner than she thought, she was going to go-sees, which is basically when models go to different designers and try on their clothes just so the designer can see whether or not you're useful for them. Years and years later after brutal work, insecurities, and self-esteem issues, she became the first black model on the cover of American Vogue magazine and French Elle. She was a role model to, not only black girls, but every minority. Beverly also was a judge on hit show She's Got the Look and America's Next Top Model. Now she has hair products that sell all over the country. She has hair care products, body products, and a line of hair extensions that I'm sure a lot of Norristownians are familiar with. So not only is she a stunning female with miraculous talent, but she's a business woman. Now she has a daughter named Ananasa Sims-Patterson ( daughter of former music producer), also a plus sized model, and a new granddaughter named Ava Patterson. Together they're living in Palm Springs, California filiming  Beverly's Full House. Many African-American females wouldn't have been able to have opportunities like this if it weren't for Beverly. She has formed the doorway for many other aspiring young minorities to show their talents and prove that they are more than just a pretty face. She's modeled, she's judged, she's been in movies, she's an entrepreneur, she's done it all. Beverly Johnson is living proof that black girls are capable of anything and that the color of your skin does not tell you where you can and cannot go, because she's gone far. Because of her there is a Niaomi Campbell, there is a Tyra Banks, and there's girls like me with a dream that will soon become a reality. Therefore I'd like to thank and award my aunt, Beverly Johnson with "A Trophy for Change". Thank you.