Gail O’Neill, a distinguished Black supermodel from the 80s and 90s, handed away Oct. 10 in Atlanta.
Supply: WWD / Getty
The 61-year-old fresh-faced magnificence’s demise was confirmed by her longtime agent, Stephanie Grill, of New York-based famed company Click on Mannequin Administration.
O’Neill’s trailblazing modeling profession started in 1985 after a photographer and a trend stylist noticed the first-generation Jamaican-American at JFK Worldwide Airport. Nabbing her first British Vogue cowl in 1986, the Westchester County native was the muse for big-name designers like Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis, Esprit, Willi Smith and Donna Karan. O’Neill rapidly turned a family title after gracing the covers of Italian and American Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Essence and Mademoiselle. The 61-year-old supermodel-turned-journalist appeared in Sports activities Illustrated’s coveted swimsuit subject with one other Black iconic mannequin– Roshumba Williams.
One of many unique members of former fashions Iman and Bethann Hardison’s Black Woman Coalition, O’Neill typically took stances in opposition to points affecting Black of us globally- like opting out of cigarette campaigns with corporations who hadn’t divested from apartheid in South Africa. And it didn’t cease her from reserving jobs.
“Individuals simply cherished her. They’d re-book her and re-book her. She was a significant magnificence with this stunning persona — so genuine and type. And he or she actually had a lot integrity,” Click on Mannequin Administration’s Grill mentioned of her fallen pal.
Having stayed within the modeling recreation for nearly twenty years, the statuesque magnificence entered a brand new profession in 1999. O’Neill discovered a brand new love with journalism. Breaking into broadcast journalism, she appeared on CBS’ Early Present, CNN and HGTV. She would ultimately transfer to Atlanta on the flip of the century. And in 2014, the previous supermodel turned editor-at-large at ArtsATL.
Concerning O’Neill’s love of journalism, her demise and her character, ArtsATL Govt Editor Scott Freeman mentioned, “That is such a devastating loss. Gail was a terrific journalist who cared about her craft and the individuals she wrote about. She had a grand curiosity concerning the world, which was an indicator of her writing fashion. She had the flexibility to take a reader alongside for the trip on her journey of discovery.”
In 2021, supermodel Beverly Johnson posted a collage of images honoring all of the legendary Black faces of modeling from the 80s and 90s, together with O’Neill.
Former modeling peer and actuality tv star Cynthia Bailey shared a poignant message and images. The 2 girls labored collectively extensively in the course of the late 80s and early 90s whereas they lived in New York. They had been additionally members of the Black Woman Coalition.
“Gail O’Neill was like no different.
class.
grace.
intelligence.
and kindness.
actually stunning inside & out.
grateful for unimaginable reminiscences.
sending my deepest & most heartfelt condolences to the household and buddies.” ðï¸ð¤ðï¸ð¤”
One other iconic Black mannequin of that period, Karen Alexander, expressed her condolences.
“Universally cherished by all, our Gail was and all the time will likely be the whole lot good and type and true and exquisite,” Alexander wrote.
O’Neill is survived by her husband, Paul Viera; her sister, who was additionally a mannequin, Denise; her mother, Elaine; and brother, Randy. Her funeral preparations will likely be shared at a later date.
