Ophelia DeVore
“Architect of the Charm and Modeling Business for People of Color”
More than sixty-five years ago, Ophelia DeVore pioneered the way for Blacks and other minorities in the modeling profession when she founded Grace Del Marco Models.
At age fifteen, Ophelia DeVore became a model in New York City, the mecca of the modeling world, where she started a career in the “Beauty Business.”
In the realm of SOUL, pioneer is her role. Long before Black people en-mass had enlisted in the “Black Awareness Revolution”, which exploded in the 60’s, Miss DeVore was engaged successfully in persuading big business that sales propaganda and advertising are inadequate without the Black mystique.
In 1946, Ophelia DeVore organized one of America’s first Black owned model agencies, Grace Del Marco, which pioneered in the development, counseling and placement of models of color. The DeVore/Del Marco models became pioneer image-builders in the minority communities. They inspired others, gave them a new faith and motivated them to reach-out and seek higher, bigger and more rewarding goals for themselves.
Miss DeVore offered industry and the public Black models not simply as pretty, beautiful or attractive faces, according to traditional Western standards; she offered models who, with their wide-ranging skin colors, say more than: “I’m Black or a minority person in the ads”– but the inner beauty of these models revealed itself externally, communicating the important message that the earth is populated by people of many colors, as in the rainbow, people beautiful together– a beautiful floral bouquet.
Miss DeVore’s models learned early that external attractiveness is necessary but is not enough. The inner beauty should be uniquely lovely, then the individual is truly a “Beautiful Person.” Some of those who benefited from Miss DeVore’s “success philosophy” are Diahann Carroll, Cecily Tyson, Sue Simmons, Lynne White, Gail Fisher, Ellen Holly, Melba Tolliver, Lucille Rich, Helen Williams, Mozella Roberts, LaJeune Hundley, Cecelia Cooper and beauty authorities Audrey Smaltz and Susan Taylor.
Miss DeVore served as consultant to industry for many years, counseling in all major areas of marketing; new ideas, product testing and development, research, packaging, copy writing, concepts, advertising and distributions relating to the consumers, retailers and the media. She participated in creating new needs and wants, locating and developing new markets, and devising innovative methods of achieving maximum results.
Ophelia DeVore-Mitchell is the publisher of the 37-year-old thriving Black weekly newspaper, The Columbus Times in Columbus, GA. Her newspaper and printing business are managed on a day-to-day basis by her enterprising daughter, Carol P. Gerdes. These businesses have continually expanded and are completely self-sufficient with all necessary printing and production equipment.
Ophelia DeVore has received over 300 awards from various business, civic and community organizations for her outstanding contributions in creating a better quality of life for all people. She is still as active today as she was when she created what is known today as the “Black Modeling Business”, with more than 50 years of proven experience as a lecturer, business executive, writer, promoter and developer.
Miss DeVore was educated in New York City at Hunter College High School and New York University where she majored in mathematics and minored in languages. She is the mother of five children, grandmother of nine and the great grandmother of six. She resides in both New York City and Columbus, Georgia. Miss DeVore has traveled extensively nationally and internationally.
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| Celebrating 65 Years of Inspiration and Motivation 1946 – 2011 |
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