Many could bear in mind Gail O’Neill through the peak of her modeling profession within the Nineteen Eighties and ‘90s, a shocking magnificence serenely gazing up from the pages of numerous magazines and indisputably one of many period’s Black supermodels. Others could bear in mind O’Neill as an advocate, one in all a number of high fashions prepared to make use of their cachet and danger their careers to diversify the white-dominated vogue business as a part of the Black Women Coalition based by Bethann Hardison, Naomi Campbell and Iman.
Youthful generations could also be extra accustomed to O’Neill as an on-air character, showing as a correspondent as CBS’ “The Early Present” debuted, then on CNN and HGTV. In 2000, she settled in Atlanta, turning into a well known and beloved native journalist. In 2014, she joined ArtsAtl to cowl arts and tradition as editor-at-large. O’Neill additionally served as a contributor at NPR affiliate WABE, and host and co-producer of the video collection “Collective Information” on TheA community.
Characterizing herself on-line as “Curious. Omnivorous. Journalist,” O’Neill was all this stuff and rather more throughout her lifetime. O’Neill died on Tuesday at age 61, as confirmed by her longtime company, Click on Fashions, to Ladies’s Put on Each day.
Born to Jamaican immigrants simply north of New York Metropolis in Westchester County, New York, O’Neill seemingly had no early aspirations for a profession in entrance of the digital camera.
“By the point I used to be 11 or 12 years outdated, I used to be satisfied that my tall, skinny body was some sort of cosmic joke . . . with me the punchline,” she stated throughout a 2013 American Museum of Pure Historical past interview.
Reportedly centered on household and teachers, O’Neill attended Wesleyan College and had already begun a advertising and marketing and gross sales profession at Xerox when she was noticed by photographer-and-stylist duo Chuck and Martha Baker whereas touring for enterprise, reviews WWD. The couple requested her cellphone quantity, instantly contacting Click on Fashions founder Frances Grill about “this nice lady.” Inside the yr, O’Neill graced the March 1986 cowl of British Vogue.
“Folks simply cherished her,” Frances’ daughter and O’Neill’s longtime agent Stephanie Grill advised WWD. “She was a significant magnificence with this stunning character — so genuine and sort. And she or he actually had a lot integrity.”
Just some years earlier than Campbell would assist formally usher within the supermodel period, O’Neill was serving to break limitations that may make that ascent doable. “She did all of it, and at a time when it was tough to get Black ladies on something,” Grill stated.
On the peak of her profession, O’Neill crossed effortlessly between promoting campaigns, runways, and excessive vogue shoots, showing on the covers of British Vogue, Italian Vogue, American Vogue, Mademoiselle, Elle and Glamour. Modeling for the labels and merchandise of designers Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Willi Smith, Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein and lots of extra, O’Neill was usually photographed by marquee names like Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Albert Watson, Arthur Elgort, Patrick Demarchelier, Gilles Bensimon and Fabrizio Ferri, reported WWD.
“The solar has misplaced a ray of sunshine,” Ferri captioned in an Instagram photograph montage of O’Neill on Thursday. “Gail is gone, leaving all of us that knew and subsequently cherished her, saddened, extra alone, chilly. Gail was my true good friend, my muse, a den to go to when looking for consolation and [advice]. I miss you, and now I need to be taught to dwell lacking you,” he added.
All through her profession, which included modeling for Vogue Italia’s now-legendary 2008 “Black Challenge” and even requests to mannequin earlier this yr, O’Neill remained grounded in her personal ethical compass. That included refusing bookings that promoted cigarette use or from firms that held pursuits in South Africa throughout its years of apartheid.
“Modeling was only a job for her. You don’t meet plenty of Gail O’Neills. She at all times popping in to say ‘hello’ and doing issues for different individuals,” Grill stated.
“Universally cherished by all, our Gail was and at all times will likely be all the things good and sort and true and delightful,” wrote fellow mannequin and advocate Karen Alexander on Thursday, alongside a classic vogue photograph of two.
Those that knew O’Neill in her second profession have been simply as effusive. “That is such a devastating loss,” ArtsATL Government Editor Scott Freeman stated because the outlet reported her demise. “Gail was an excellent journalist who cared about her craft and the individuals she wrote about.
“She additionally was a pricey good friend,” Freeman continued. “Typically it felt like she held the town of Atlanta within the palm of her hand; each time we went to an occasion collectively, everybody appeared to know her and everybody wished to be round her. Gail was particular: humble, vivacious, caring. She’s probably the most unimaginable individuals I’ve ever recognized.”
Whereas the precise explanation for O’Neill’s demise is unknown, ArtsATL reported that she “had courageously fought a severe sickness over the previous two years.” Grill advised WWD that O’Neill is believed to have died at her dwelling in Atlanta; she is survived by her husband, Paul Viera; her mom, Elaine; her brother, Randy; and her sister, former Click on mannequin Denise O’Neill.
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