Jamaican born model, actress and musician Grace Jones has been influencing fashion for decades. First bursting onto the scene in the 1970s as a model, she stood out from other famous faces of the era with her flawless dark skin, chiseled cheek bones and severely androgynous appearance. This gender bending look, created in part by stylist Jean-Paul Goude, included a “flat top” square hair cut usually framed by angular, padded clothing. During her modeling years, Jones became Andy Warhol and Keith Haring's muse and walked the runway for designers such as Yves St. Laurent, Kenzo Takada and Azzedine Alaia. She also appeared on the cover of well known fashion publications such as Elle and Vogue, while working with legendary photographers like Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, and Hans Feurer. Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, producing a string of Disco and New Wave dance hits. During her concerts, Grace wore extremely outlandish costumes and even incorporated real lions and leopards into her live show. She soon became a cult favorite New York City’s underground and nightlife scene, often attending the infamous NYC club Studio 54.
Eventually, Grace made her way into the acting world. Appearing in a few low-budget movies in the 1970s and early 1980s, Jones won her first mainstream starring role alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1984 fantasy-action film "Conan the Destroyer" and soon followed as a villain in the 1985 James Bond feature "A View to a Kill".
Today at age 65, Grace Jones remains an unforgettable force of nature. When asked how she achieved her iconic image, Grace replied, "I wasn't born this way. One creates oneself." Her edgy, androgynous beauty and sexually evocative artistry continues to inspire.