Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis: Bethann Hardison

Activist, trailblazer, model, muse—Bethann Hardison’s influence over fashion and media for the past five decades has fundamentally changed how it’s perceived today. Join this groundbreaking fashion icon for a career interview with Fern Mallis.

Hear reflections on her life—from working in NYC’s Garment District in the 1970s, to become a model and muse for Willi Smith, to becoming one of the first black models favored by European and New York designers like Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Issey Miyake, and Ungaro. They’ll talk about the challenges and triumphs of her Bethann Management business and her work with clients like Veronica Webb and Tyson Beckford. And they’ll talk about her current passions and motivation which now focuses on sharing her expertise with the fashion and media industries on a broader scale through books and film documentation.