Description: 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.
Brief description: LaQuita James, a Tennessee native who resides in Nashville, is a certified speech-language pathologist, professional podcaster, voice-over artist, musical theater singer, and cellist. A professional award-winning actress, she has appeared in TV shows, feature films, and numerous regional and national voice-overs. She has appeared in costarring roles on Hap & Leonard, Still the King, and Nashville, along with supporting roles in several feature films. She was voted Indyville Actress of the Year and received a Broadway World Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Lasonia in Trials & Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife. She also won Best Supporting Actress in the 54 Hour Film Festival. LaQuita has narrated for Time, HuffPost, and Reuters. She has a supporting role (Katrina) in the popular audio drama Margaritas & Donuts featured in the New York Times. She narrated the Caldecott Honor Award-winning book Thank You Omu by Oge Mora and the bestselling book The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine. She has narrated audiobooks for several well-known publishers. LaQuita is an avid reader and loves Harry Potter and Jane Austen. She is also an animal lover and has a cat named Gracie Lou Freebush.