Transformation

At 15, Naomi Campbell strutted her way to supermodelhood and shook up a not-so-colorblind industry. "My features are completely ethnic," she told Essence. "And I'm proud of them." She showed her versatility in campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and Ralph Lauren and in hairstyles ranging from a Josephine Baker crop to a buoyant blond flip. This high-octane career led the way for models like Tyra Banks and Veronica Webb. "They used to call up asking for a beautiful white model or a beautiful black model," Campbell has said. "Now they just ask for a beautiful model. If I've had something to do with that change, then I'm really proud of it."

The British-born 19-year-old wore her asymmetrical bob tucked behind one ear.