Amina Warsuma (born 1953) is an American model, author, actress and film maker.

Early life

Warsuma was born in the Bronx, New York to a Somali father and an American mother.

Education

Warsuma graduated with an ASS degree from Monroe College in business in Bronx, New York. Warsuma attended UCLA for Television pilot writing class. Warsuma attained a degree in Cinema Production and Producing from LACC Cinema and Television Department in Los Angeles

Career

Battle of Versailles

Warsuma was one of eleven black models that ran in the Battle of Versailles Fashion Show. The Fashion Show was held in 1973 at the

Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 19 ...

raising $280,000 for the restoration of the palace. The other black models were Pat Cleveland,

Bethann Hardison Bethann Hardison is an American fashion model and activist. Hardison is well known for being one of the first high profile black models after her appearance at the 1973 Battle of Versailles fashion show. She is also known for her activism on div ...

Billie Blair Billie Blair is an American model. Early life Blair was born in Arkansas to parents, Hattie and William Blair, and is of African-American descent. Her name was given to her due to her father's certainty that she was going to be a boy. His plan ...

, Jennifer Brice, Alva Chinn,

Norma Jean Darden Norma Jean Darden is a model recognized by the 2011 Huffington Post Game Changer Awards. The awards honored African American models featured in The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show which was a fashion show held on November 28, 1973, in the Pal ...

Charlene Dash Charlene Dash is an African-American Model (person), model. Dash is one of the models recognized by the 2011 Huffington Post Game Changer Awards. The awards honored African American models featured in the Versailles fashion show entitled The Battl ...

, Barbara Jackson, China Machado and Ramona Saunder. The show pitted five established French designers against five emerging American designers. The show use of eleven African-American models was unprecedented at the time and marked a new direction in fashion runways.

Awards

In 2011, Warsuma alongside the other ten African-Americans models received the ''

Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...

'' Game Changer Awards for their role in the Battle of Versailles Fashion Show. The award was presented by Gayle King. The

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...

honoured Warsuma and the other 10 models in 2011 with a special luncheon.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warsuma, Amina 1953 births Living people Female models from New York (state) Los Angeles City College alumni Monroe College alumni American writers American actresses 21st-century American women