It’s hard not to feel delighted while perusing photographs of Grace Jones, who turns 76 today. Born in Jamaica, she quickly rose to prominence in the ’70s as a singer, model, and actress, working with everyone from Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin to Yves Saint Laurent—and famously frequenting Studio 54. With a powerful, disco-led aesthetic—from those wonderfully striking Philip Treacy headpieces to her lurex, sharp-shouldered suits and all manner of shine—she also pioneered a beauty look as fantastical, directional, and uniquely her as her ensembles. She is, to put it simply, the epitome of fabulous.
The cheekbones! The eyeshadow! The brows! The hair! Every element of her look is as distinctive as the last and has paved the way for a number of enduring trends, in both the beauty and fashion worlds. In fact, of her iconic shaved hair, she once said: “It made me look more abstract, less tied to a specific race or sex or tribe. I was Black but not Black; woman, but not woman; American, but Jamaican; African, but science-fiction.” We are truly not worthy.
1981
Mondadori Portfolio
2000
Rose Hartman
1977
Bettmann
1979
Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images
1981
Images Press
1981
Anthony Barboza
1984
Chip HIRES
2003
Bill Davila
2001
Pool BENAINOUS/MERILLON/SIMON
1992
Ron Galella
1977
Gilles Petard
1985
Ron Galella
1983
Chris Walter
1983
Ron Galella
1978
Ron Galella