Ophelia DeVore Mitchell, born August 22, 1923, in Edgefield, South Carolina, was a high fashion model, marketing consultant, businesswoman and newspaper publisher. Ms. DeVore-Mitchell was appointed by President Reagan to the President’s Advisory Committee for the Arts. In addition, she was one of the founders of the Black Press Archives at Howard University, as well as a wife and mother of 5 children.

 

Ms. DeVore was one of 10 children born into an interracial family and educated in segregated elementary schools in South Carolina. Ophelia was sent to live with relatives to attend and graduate from Hunter College High School in New York City. She also graduated from New York University with a degree in mathematics and languages.

 

Her goal was to become a high fashion model. Her light skin and Northern European features gave her access to training from the elite Vogue Modeling School-a program which did not knowingly accept Black women. As a graduate of the School, Ophelia became the first black woman trained in the business of modeling and the first person of color to integrate into the top modeling school of the day.

 

DeVore-Mitchell worked as a model for only a short time because she realized there would be more impact and influence working to challenge the viewpoint of the day that only white people could represent the image of beauty in America. Her mission became challenging the negative stereotypes and images of black people in the beauty industry and creating a demand for black models and entertainers.

 

Joined by a few friends, The Grace Del Marco Modeling Agency was established to represent and advocate for black models. The agency would also provide leadership training in the poise and presence needed for success. The name of the agency was formed by using the word grace, which was a goal, and an initial of the friends’ names. 

 

Her efforts were highly successful. Some of her protégés were actresses Diahann Carroll and Cicely Tyson and Audrey Smaltz, fashion commentator and founder of a fashion show management company. 

 

As she continued to train and represent models, Ms. DeVore-Mitchell realized many of her students were more interested in the leadership training she provided than the modeling profession. The students wanted the knowledge and skill to present themselves and to lead others in the larger society.  A new business was born, The Ophelia DeVore School of Self-Development and Modeling in 1946. The business became The Ophelia DeVore School of Charm in 1948 and taught dress, diction, deportment, social graces, personal leadership, fencing and ballet. The school lasted for over 5 decades. 

 

Ms. DeVore-Mitchell said she was in the communication business all of her life,  using her platform as an activist to ensure black people were seen, heard, valued and hired. She used her influence to create excellence and inclusivity in the fashion world, to inspire everyone to reach for and achieve their goals.

 

The brilliance, legacy and achievements of this Gracious Powerful Leader are many:

I had the privilege of attending The Ophelia DeVore School of Charm in preparation for a cotillion. The leadership skills I learned from Ms. DeVore have served me well.

 

Ms. Ophelia DeVore-Mitchell, we salute you.