The model finally decided to settle in Rome and continue her work in modeling around 1974. At this time, other Black models, such as Beverly Johnson and Iman, rose to fame and stormed the catwalks in the U.S. Beverly Johnson has been cited as the first Black model to grace a Vogue cover, but her American Vogue cover in August 1974 came eight years after Luna landed hers.
Johnson made it clear she wasn’t a fan of Luna, calling her weird and unprofessional in the press. When asked by a New York Times reporter if Luna helped open doors for Black models, Johnson stated:
“As for Donyale Luna, she doesn’t wear shoes, winter or summer. Ask her where she’s from. Mars? She went up and down the runways on her hands and knees and didn’t show up for bookings,” Johnson said in the 1975 interview.
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