Tyra Banks
Tyra BanksPerhaps the most famous name on this list, Tyra was the first black model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1997. Ms. Banks was one of the first models of any race to turn herself into a complete brand with TV production, books, and even her own talk show, the eponymous Tyra from 2005-2010. [Photo via]