Alina Mitchell
The Color of Beauty
Ophelia DeVore boldly overcame tragedy and hardship to become the first black model in the United States of America. She possessed grace, finesse, intelligence, natural beauty, and courage. Being the first black graduate of the Vogue Modeling School, she eventually became a powerful business mogul, an exuberant entrepreneur, and a respected leader in her field. Her story is unique because she redefined “beauty” in America. Throughout her life, she sought to prove to the world beauty could be found in every shade of color. The Ophelia DeVore Charm School and Grace Del Marco Modeling Agency served as a strong foundation for notables including Diahann Carroll, Richard Roundtree, Trudy Haynes, Helen Williams, Cicely Tyson, Susan Taylor, Audrey Smaltz and many more. She regularly worked with fashion icons such as Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, and Ceil Chapman. In a personal letter written on July 17, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., thanked DeVore for being a part of “the great democratic crusade of our era.” Her inspirational story will move you to believe in yourself and achieve your dreams.
The Color of Beauty Curriculum
The Color of Beauty Curriculum is based on author Alina Mitchell's book, The Color of Beauty: The Life and Work of New York Fashion Icon Ophelia DeVore. This book chronicles the life of Ophelia DeVore, an extraordinary woman who left an incredible mark in the world of high-fashion and American history by becoming the first Black model, redefining American beauty for minorities, and paving the way for contemporary supermodels of color. Many notable celebrities including Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Beah Richards, Richard Roundtree, Helen Williams, Audrey Smaltz, and more attended the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and Grace del Marco Modeling Agency in New York. Designed for 9-12th graders, The Color of Beauty Curriculum guides educators, home-school parents, youth & book club leaders, and more through creative lessons aligned to Common Core English and The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards, as well as the CASEL Social-Emotional Learning competencies. The engaging and thought-provoking activities found in the lessons are perfect for traditional and remote learning settings. Literature concepts are presented in exciting interactive ways including technology such as digital pinboarding, 3D prototyping, podcasting, augmented/virtual reality, and more. Differentiated instruction recommendations are also included. This comprehensive guide will evoke powerful dialogue and foster an atmosphere for meaningful learning!
Every Inch A Lady: A Memoir From Fashion Icon Audrey Smaltz by Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell
Audrey Smaltz is her name and fashion is her game. Famously known in the fashion industry for her powerhouse leadership as the CEO and Founder of The Ground Crew, Audrey ran a fashion show dressing business whose origins began in 1977. Her successful leadership led her to work with top high fashion designers around the world including Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan, Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Stephen Burrows, Vera Wang, and more. Described as “a good luck charm” with “incredible fashion history who makes everything run perfectly and smoothly” by Michael Kors and “an integral part of the fashion industry” with “the sexiest voice of any woman” by Oscar de la Renta, she left her mark in the hearts of high fashion’s finest. As a businesswoman, model, Ebony fashion coordinator & commentator, and Vogue editor this book highlights the life, background, and accomplishments of this extraordinary Black woman who discovered a solution to a problem in the fashion industry and turned it into a multi-million dollar company spanning over four decades.
This book shares significant moments and experiences early on in Audrey’s life as a student and model at the illustrious Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and Grace del Marco Modeling Agency where she was the 1st Black Miss New York City contestant. Her significant contributions to retail fashion and cosmetics including her leadership roles at Lane Bryant, Bloomingdales, and Lena Horne Cosmetics in the 1960s is recounted. Smaltz colorfully shares her world travel experiences as Ebony Magazine and Ebony Fashion Fair Coordinator with the legendary Eunice Johnson, which opened doors for her to meet and conduct business with high-fashion designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Dior, and more. Her incredible networking skills and eloquent way with words landed her an editor position at Vogue Magazine in the 1970s for the column, “Beauty from a Black Woman’s Point of View.” Meanwhile, she balanced life, love, and racism while starting her business.
In this book, Audrey recounts her fabulous opportunity to run New York’s Fashion Week background operations for two decades and how The Ground Crew worked with celebrity clients including Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, and more. Her business’ success landed her twice on the Oprah Winfrey Show and to become a Coordinating Producer of BET’s Rip the Runway.
In 2020, Audrey campaigned for her powerful business friend Mike Bloomberg who championed women’s rights. Her advocacy work in the LGBTQ community, after marrying her wife, former WNBA, and Olympic silver medalist Gail Marquis in 2011 will also be shared. This book includes key takeaways for readers on life and business that accompany her experiences and achievements.
The Holloway Society of Young Detectives by Isaac Perry and Alina Mitchell (In development)
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